Spine Curve Measures Taken in Individuals with Osteoporosis and Osteopenia Using the IONmed Mobile Phone Application Are Highly Consistent with Digital Inclinometer Measures

Abstract

Introduction. This study determined the agreement between measures of standing posture in individuals at risk of osteoporotic fracture obtained using the IONmed mobile phone application and a digital inclinometer. Methods. One experienced rater assessed 20 adults, aged 55–88 years, attending an outpatient osteoporosis clinic. A standardized protocol was duplicated to acquire a single measure of spine curvature (lumbosacral angle, lordosis, kyphosis) using the IONmed mobile phone application and a digital inclinometer. Interdevice agreement was determined using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and standard error of the measurement (SEM) with 95% CI and Bland-Altman plots. Results. ICC (95% CI) for lumbosacral angle, lordosis, and kyphosis is 0.97 (0.92, 0.99), 0.97 (0.92, 0.99), and 0.99 (0.98, 1.0), respectively. SEM (95% CI) for lumbosacral angle, lordosis, and kyphosis is 0.99° (0.75, 1.44), 1.33° (1.01, 1.94), and 1.23° (0.94, 1.80), respectively. Measurement bias is small. Conclusions. In our sample, the IONmed mobile phone application provides measures highly consistent with the digital inclinometer measures of standing posture. This method offers clinicians a quick, convenient way of identifying alterations in spine alignment which require followup and remediation.