These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Interexaminer reliability of supine leg checks for discriminating leg-length inequality.
    Author: Woodfield HC, Gerstman BB, Olaisen RH, Johnson DF.
    Journal: J Manipulative Physiol Ther; 2011 May; 34(4):239-46. PubMed ID: 21621725.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to quantify interexaminer reliability of a standardized supine leg check procedure used to screen for leg-length inequality. METHODS: Two doctors of chiropractic used a standardized supine leg check procedure to examine 50 volunteers for leg-length inequality. The order of examination was randomized. The side and magnitude of leg-length inequality were determined to the nearest 1/8 in. Subjects and examiners were blinded. Interexaminer reliability was assessed with a Bland-Altman plot, tolerance table of absolute differences, a quadratic weighted κ statistic for quantitative scores, and a Gwet's first-order agreement coefficient for dichotomous ratings. RESULTS: The quadratic weighted κ statistic to quantify the reliability of the rating scale was 0.44 (95% confidence interval, 0.21-0.67), indicating moderate reliability. The 2 examiners agreed exactly 32% of the time, within 1/8 in 58% of the time, within 3/16 in 72% of the time, and within 3/8 in 92% of the time. The Bland-Altman plot revealed possible heterogeneity in reliability that requires additional study. The examiners agreed on the presence of a leg-length inequality of at least 1/8 in in 40 (80%) of 50 subjects (first-order agreement coefficient, 0.76), suggesting good agreement for this diagnostic category. CONCLUSION: The examiners showed moderate reliability in assessing leg-length inequality at 1/8-in increments and good reliability in determining the presence of a leg-length inequality.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]