Concurrent validity and reliability of a smartphone-based application for the head repositioning and cervical range of motion.

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the validity and reliability of a smartphone-based application against inertial sensors to measure head repositioning (by using joint position sense -JPS) and cervical range of motion (ROM).

Methods: JPS and cervical ROM were evaluated for neck flexion, extension and both-sides lateral flexion in thirty-one volunteers. Participants were simultaneously evaluated with inertial sensors and the smartphone application. A total of 248 angles were compared for concurrent validity. Inter-tester and intra-tester reliability were evaluated through scoring of images with the smartphone application by two testers, and re-scoring images by the same tester.

Results: Very high correlation was observed between both methods for ROM in all neck movements and JPS in left-side lateral flexion (r>0.9), and high for JPS in the rest of movements (r>0.8). Bland-Altman plots always demonstrated absolute agreement. Inter-and intra-tester reliability was perfect for JPS and ROM in all the neck movements (ICC>0.81).

Conclusions: This smartphone-based application is valid and reliable for evaluating head repositioning and cervical ROM compared with inertial sensors in healthy and young adults. Health professionals could use it in an easier and portable way in field conditions.