Intrarater reliability of leg length measurement , palpation, and special test of sacroiliac joint in normal subjects

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate intrarater reliability of measurement of leg length distance, static palpation at bony landmarks and performing special tests for sacroiliac joint in normal subjects. Thirty male subjects (mean age 20.4 ± 1.4 yrs) were participated by wearing headdress helmet and uniform for blinding the examiners. The subjects were randomized for assessment by a manager and they were examined each station that consisted of spinomalleolar distance, palpations of anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS), posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS), iliac crest, greater trochanter, ischial tuberosity, and special tests which were Weber-Barstow test, long-sitting test, and hip rotation test. The subjects were examined 3 times in each test where the special tests was examined the last sequence. The Data were analyzed by Intraclass Correlation Coefficient and Kappa Coefficient. The result demonatrated that the intrarater reliability in measuring left and right spinomalleolar distance and the distance from navel to ASIS on left and right side  were 0.98, 0.99, 0.98, and 0.98 , respectively. In addition, the intrarater reliability of static palpation in ASIS, PSIS, iliac crest, greater trochanter, and ischial tuberosity were 1.00, 0.94, 0.96, 0.98, and 0.90, respectively. Furthermore, intrarater reliability of special tests that in Weber-Barstow test, long-sitting test, and hip rotation test were 0.92, 0.97, and 0.95 respectively. In conclusion, the intrarater reliability of leg length distance, static palpation at bony landmarks, and special tests of sacroiliac joint in male subjects were high in this study.