Intrarater and Interrater Reliability of Electro-Goniometric Measurements in Patients with Hand and Wrist Limitations

Abstract

searchers who collected data from participants met to review standardized assessment procedures to promote inter-rater reliability. Approval to conduct this study was obtained from the participating sites’ Institutional Review Boards. Results: Overall good to excellent correlation between the HAT and the JHFT and grip strength was noted. Little to no correlation was revealed between the HAT and the JHFT simulated page turning subtest (for individuals injuring their dominant upper extremity) and the JHFT writing subtest (for individuals injuring their non-dominant upper extremity). Correlation coefficients and levels of significance are reported. Conclusion: A good negative correlation was noted between grip strength and the HAT for both upper extremities. The negative correlation was anticipated because higher HAT scores and lower grip scores both indicate a more severe level of functional impairment. As expected, a non-significant correlation between the HAT and the JHFT writing subtest was noted for individuals who injured their non-dominant upper extremity. It is understandable that these individuals reported little to no difficulty with writing tasks on the HAT because their dominant hand was not injured. Their time score on the JHFT writing subtest was expected to be higher because they would not typically write with their non-dominant hand. Continued investigation may include exploring relationship to an assessment of bilateral upper extremity function standardized to observe an individual’s performance of self-care activities such as the Sequential Occupational Dexterity Assessment.