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http://dx.doi.org/10.12674/ptk.2014.21.3.020

Reliability of Three Methods for Measuring Length of Iliotibial Tract  

Kim, Moon-Hwan (Dept. of Rehabilitation Medicine, Wonju Severance Christian Hospital)
Yun, Sung-Joon (Dept. of Rehabilitation Medicine, Wonju Severance Christian Hospital)
Weon, Jong-Hyuck (Dept. of Physical Therapy, College of Tourism & Health Science, Joongbu University)
Publication Information
Physical Therapy Korea / v.21, no.3, 2014 , pp. 20-27 More about this Journal
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to compare the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of three methods for measuring iliotibial tract length in 40 knees of 20 subjects. The measurements were performed by two examiners and one assistant. The length of the iliotibial tract was measured using three methods: the first used a modified Ober test with an inclinometer, the second used a modified Ober test with a marker, and the third used active adduction test with a marker in the supine position. Each examiner used the three methods in two sessions. For the first method, the inclinometer value was recorded manually. For the second and third methods, Image J analysis software was used to analyze the photographs taken. The intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of the measured value was assessed by means of intra-class correlation coefficients [ICC (3,1)] and the standard error of measurement. The intra-rater reliabilities of the three methods were excellent (ICC=.97, .95, and .94, respectively), and the inter-rater reliabilities of the first and second methods were fair to good (ICC=.64 and .65, respectively). The inter-rater reliability of the third method was excellent (ICC=.88). Our results suggest that the active adduction test is an objective and qualitative measurement method for measuring iliotibial tract length. We recommend that the active adduction test be used for measuring iliotibial tract length in the clinical setting.
Keywords
Active adduction test; Iliotibial tract; Modified Ober test; Reliability;
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