Is the Digital Goniometer a valid assessment tool for positioning sense in male individuals with primary knee osteoarthritis?

ABSTRACT Aim: To examine the validity of digital goniometer in measuring knee proprioception in individuals with primary knee osteoarthritis. Methods: Thirty male individuals diagnosed with primary knee osteoarthritis participated in this study (their mean age was 48.4±6.81; weight was 71.95±15.05; height was 165.33±9.35 &BMI was 26.16±4.25). Medical history, physical examination and Lower Extremity Function Scale , Numeric Pain Score and Kujula scale were taken to determine knee joint function and pain levels. All individuals underwent active repositioning test using digital goniometer to determine absolute angular error for 30 and 45 degrees of knee flexion. Results: There was a weak positive non-significant correlation between absolute angular error measurement at 30° with numeric pain score (p=0.62), lower extremity function scale (p=0.58), and Kujula (p=0.69). There was weak positive non-significant correlation between absolute angular error measurement at 45° with numeric pain score (p=0.62), There was a weak positive non-significant correlation between absolute angular error measurement at 45° with Kujula (p=0.84) while there was a weak negative non-significant correlation between absolute angular error at 45° and lower extremity function scale (p=0.93). Intra-rater reliability of absolute angular error measurement suggested moderate reliability for 30° (ICC:0.71) and good reliability for 45° (ICC:0.76). Conclusion: Digital goniometer was not a valid tool in measuring knee proprioception (active repositioning test) in individuals with primary knee osteoarthriti