The Concurrent Validity and Reliability of the Smartphone Measurement Application to Evaluate Iliotibial Band Tightness: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

The Concurrent Validity and Reliability of the Smartphone Measurement Application to Evaluate Iliotibial Band Tightness: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Purpose: In recent years, the medical use of smartphones has increased with the development of hardware. The study aims to evaluate the reliability and concurrent validity of iPhone® measurement application to measure ITB tightness. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Thirty athletes with ITB tightness (17 males, 13 females) between 20 and 45 years old were included and assessed in this study. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to evaluate the reliability of each smartphone measurement, and Bland–Altman analysis was used to examine measurement errors. The ITB tightness was measured with Ober test using a bubble inclinometer and iPhone® measurement application and evaluated by two experienced physiotherapists. The researchers carried out three measurements for both extremities, using both the bubble inclinometer and the iPhone® measurement application. Measurement values were recorded by a third physiotherapist. Results: The iPhone® measurement application has strong inter-rater (ICC=0.941) and intra-rater (ICC=0.986) reliability and concurrent validity (r=0.945) in measuring ITB tightness. Conclusion: From the cross-sectional study’s results, it can be concluded that the iPhone® measurement application possesses strong intra-rater and inter-rater reliability and concurrent validity and can be used for measuring ITB tightness.

Keywords

• Assessment
• iliotibial band tightness
• musculoskeletal abnormalities
• smartphone

References

1. Flato R, Passanante GJ, Skalski MR, Patel DB, White EA, Matcuk GR. The iliotibial tract: imaging, anatomy, injuries, and other pathology. Skeletal Radiol. 2017;46(5):605–22.
2. Hyland S, Varacallo M. Anatomy, Bony Pelvis and Lower Limb, Iliotibial Band (Tract) [Internet]. StatPearls. 2019 [cited 2021 Aug 30]. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30725782/
3. Baker RL, Fredericson M. Iliotibial Band Syndrome in Runners. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2016;27(1):53–77.
4. Devan MR, Pescatello LS, Faghri P, Anderson J. A Prospective Study of Overuse Knee Injuries Among Female Athletes With Muscle Imbalances and Structural Abnormalities. J Athl Train. 2004 Sep;39(3):263–7.
5. Reese NB, Bandy WD. Use of an Inclinometer to Measure Flexibility of the Iliotibial Band Using the Ober Test and the Modified Ober Test: Differences in Magnitude and Reliability of Measurements. J Orthop Sport Phys Ther. 2003;33(6):326–30.
6. Ober FR. Back Strain and Sciatica. JAMA J Am Med Assoc. 1935;104(18):1580.
7. Willett GM, Keim SA, Shostrom VK, Lomneth CS. An Anatomic Investigation of the Ober Test. Am J Sports Med. 2016;44(3):696–701.
8. Melchione WE, Sullivan MS. Reliability of measurements obtained by use of an instrument designed to indirectly measure iliotibial band length. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1993;18(3):511–5.

9. Salamh PA, Kolber M. The reliability, minimal detectable change and concurrent validity of a gravity-based bubble inclinometer and iphone application for measuring standing lumbar lordosis. Physiother Theory Pract. 2014 Jan 17;30(1):62–7.
10. Ferber R, Kendall KD, McElroy L. Normative and Critical Criteria for Iliotibial Band and Iliopsoas Muscle Flexibility. J Athl Train. 2010;45(4):344–8.
11. Samo DG, Chen S-PC, Crampton AR, Chen EH, Conrad KM, Egan L, et al. Validity of Three Lumbar Sagittal Motion Measurement Methods. J Occup Environ Med. 1997 Mar;39(3):209–16.
12. Erdfelder E, FAul F, Buchner A, Lang AG. Statistical power analyses using G*Power 3.1: Tests for correlation and regression analyses. Behav Res Methods. 2009;41(4):1149–60.
13. Kelly SB, Alvar BA, Black LE, Dodd DJ, Carothers KF, Brown LE. The Effect of Warm-Up With Whole-Body Vibration vs. Cycle Ergometry on Isokinetic Dynamometry. J Strength Cond Res. 2010 Nov;24(11):3140–3.
14. Balsalobre-Fernández C, Romero-Franco N, Jiménez-Reyes P. Concurrent validity and reliability of an iPhone app for the measurement of ankle dorsiflexion and inter-limb asymmetries. J Sports Sci. 2019 Feb 2;37(3):249–53.
15. Bland JM, Altman DG. Measuring agreement in method comparison studies. Stat Methods Med Res. 1999 Jun;8(2):135–60.
16. Pots P, Winter G. [Morphological investigation endometrial changes due to drugs]. Z Geburtshilfe Gynakol. 1956;147(1):44–51.
17. Kolber MJ, Pizzini M, Robinson A, Yanez D, Hanney WJ. The reliability and concurrent validity of measurements used to quantify lumbar spine mobility: an analysis of an iphone® application and gravity based inclinometry. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2013 Apr;8(2):129–37.
18. Martin Bland J, Altman D. Statistical methods for assessing agreement between two methods of clinical measurement. Lancet. 1986 Feb;327(8476):307–10.
19. Pourahmadi MR, Taghipour M, Jannati E, Mohseni-Bandpei MA, Ebrahimi Takamjani I, Rajabzadeh F. Reliability and validity of an iPhone ® application for the measurement of lumbar spine flexion and extension range of motion. PeerJ. 2016 Aug 23;4:e2355.
20. Haley SM, Fragala-Pinkham MA. Interpreting Change Scores of Tests and Measures Used in Physical Therapy. Phys Ther. 2006 May 1;86(5):735–43.
21. Bucke J, Spencer S, Fawcett L, Sonvico L, Rushton A, Heneghan NR. Validity of the Digital Inclinometer and iPhone When Measuring Thoracic Spine Rotation. J Athl Train. 2017 Sep 1;52(9):820–5.
22. Stanek JM, Parish J, Rainville R, Williams JG. Test-Retest and Intrarater Reliability of Assessing Tibial Rotation Range of Motion by Two Devices. Int J Athl Ther Train. 2020 Sep 1;25(5):263–9.
23. Beals C, Flanigan D. A Review of Treatments for Iliotibial Band Syndrome in the Athletic Population. J Sports Med. 2013;2013:1–6.
24. Strauss EJ, Kim S, Calcei JG, Park D. Iliotibial Band Syndrome: Evaluation and Management. Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2011 Dec;19(12):728–36.
25. Bruyneel AV. Smartphone applications for range of motion measurement in clinical practice: A literature review of inclinometer and goniometric tools. Ann Phys Rehabil Med. 2018 Jul;61:e454.
26. Hahn S, Kröger I, Willwacher S, Augat P. Reliability and validity varies among smartphone apps for range of motion measurements of the lower extremity: a systematic review. Biomed Eng / Biomed Tech. 2021 Dec 20;66(6):537–55.
27. Keogh JWL, Cox A, Anderson S, Liew B, Olsen A, Schram B, et al. Reliability and validity of clinically accessible smartphone applications to measure joint range of motion: A systematic review. Müller J, editor. PLoS One. 2019 May 8;14(5):e0215806.
28. Charlton PC, Mentiplay BF, Pua Y-H, Clark RA. Reliability and concurrent validity of a Smartphone, bubble inclinometer and motion analysis system for measurement of hip joint range of motion. J Sci Med Sport. 2015 May;18(3):262–7.
29. Sarac DC, Yalcinkaya G, Unver B. Validity and reliability of a smartphone goniometer application for measuring hip range of motions. Work. 2022 Jan 15;71(1):275–80.
30. Balsalobre-Fernández C, Marchante D, Muñoz-López M, Jiménez SL. Validity and reliability of a novel iPhone app for the measurement of barbell velocity and 1RM on the bench-press exercise. J Sports Sci. 2018 Jan 2;36(1):64–70.
31. Pourahmadi M, Momeni E, Mohseni N, Hesarikia H, Ghanjal A, Shamsoddini A. The reliability and concurrent validity of a new iPhone® application for measuring active lumbar spine flexion and extension range of motion in patients with low back pain. Physiother Theory Pract. 2021 Jan 2;37(1):204–17.