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Repeatability of joint proprioception and muscle torque assessment in healthy children and in children diagnosed with hypermobility syndrome

Fatoye, Francis A.; Palmer, Shea T.; Rowe, Philip J.; van der Linden, Marietta L.; Palmer, Shea; Macmillan, Fiona

Authors

Francis A. Fatoye

Shea T. Palmer

Philip J. Rowe

Marietta L. van der Linden

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Shea Palmer Shea.Palmer@uwe.ac.uk
Occasional Associate Lecturer - CHSS - HSW

Fiona Macmillan



Abstract

Background: Impairment of joint proprioception in patients with hypermobility syndrome (HMS) has been well documented. Both joint proprioception and muscle torque are commonly assessed in patients with musculoskeletal complaints. It is unknown, however, if these measures change significantly on repeated application in healthy children and in children with HMS. Aim: To investigate the between-days repeatability of joint proprioception and muscle torque in these groups. Methods: Twenty children (10 healthy and 10 with HMS), aged eight to 15 years, were assessed on two separate occasions (one week apart) for joint kinaesthesia (JK), joint position sense (JPS), and the extensor and knee flexor muscle torque of the knee. JK was measured using threshold to detection of passive movement. JPS was measured using the absolute angular error (AAE; the absolute difference between the target and perceived angles). Knee extensor and flexor muscle torque was normalized to body weight. Results: Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) for JK, extensor and flexor muscle torque excellent in both groups (range 0.83 to 0.98). However, ICC values for JPS tests were poor to moderate in the two groups (range 0.18 to 0.56). 95% limits of agreement (LOA) were narrow in both cohorts for JK and muscle torque (indicating low systematic error) but wide for the JPS tests. 95% LOA also demonstrated that the measuring instruments used in this study had low between-days systematic error. Conclusions: Based on ICC and 95% LOA, the repeatability of JK and muscle torque measurements was excellent in both healthy children and those with HMS. The JPS test can only be assessed with poor to moderate repeatability. The use of the JPS test in these children should be undertaken with caution. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Citation

van der Linden, M. L., Rowe, P. J., Palmer, S. T., Fatoye, F. A., Palmer, S., & Macmillan, F. (2008). Repeatability of joint proprioception and muscle torque assessment in healthy children and in children diagnosed with hypermobility syndrome. Musculoskeletal Care, 6(2), 108-123. https://doi.org/10.1002/msc.127

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Dec 11, 2008
Journal Musculoskeletal Care
Print ISSN 1478-2189
Electronic ISSN 1557-0681
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 6
Issue 2
Pages 108-123
DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/msc.127
Keywords joint kinaesthesia, joint position sense, muscle torque, repeatability
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1011963
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/msc.127