ArticleBMC musculoskeletal disorders2022
Parents can reliably and accurately detect trunk asymmetry using an inclinometer smartphone app.
Article in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- A comprehensive narrative review of scoliosis in children and adolescents: epidemiology, screening strategies, therapeutic interventions, and biomechanical research.Frontiers in pediatrics · 2026Pooled it
- Repeatability and intra and interrater reproducibility of the DIPA-S eHealth© capture and analysis system for clinical assessment of scoliosis.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2024Article
- Digital health in musculoskeletal care: where are we heading?BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2023Article
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Authors and funding
11 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeAn inclinometer smartphone application has been developed to enable the measurement of the angle of trunk inclination (ATI) to detect trunk surface asymmetry. The objective was to determine the reliability and validity of the smartphone app in the hands of non-professionals.
methodsThree non-professional observers and one expert surgeon measured maximum ATI twice in a study involving 69 patients seen in the spine clinics to rule out scoliosis or for regular follow-up (10-18 y.o., Cobb [0°-58°]). Observers were parents not familiar with scoliosis screening nor use of an inclinometer. They received training from a 4-minute video. Intra and inter-observer reliability was determined using the generalizability theory and validity was assessed from intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), agreement with the expert on ATI measurements using Bland-Altman analysis, and correct identification of the threshold for consultation (set to ≥6° ATI).
resultsIntra-observer and inter-observer reliability coefficients were excellent ϕ = 0.92. The standard error of measurement was 1.5° (intra-observer, 2 measurements) meaning that a parent may detect a change of 4° between examinations 95% of the time. Comparison of measurements between non-professionals and the expert resulted in ICC varying from 0.82 [0.71-0.88] to 0.84 [0.74-0.90] and agreement on the decision to consult occurred in 83 to 90% of cases.
conclusionThe use of a smartphone app resulted in excellent reliability, sufficiently low standard error of measurement (SEM) and good validity in the hands of non-professionals. The device and the instructional video are adequate means to allow detection and regular examination of trunk asymmetries by non-professionals.
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