INTRA-TESTER RELIABILITY OF THE OPEN PACKED POSITION LOCALIZATION TEST FOR THE KNEE IN PATIENTS WITH KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS

Abstract

Background: knee joint passive accessory mobilizations in open packed position relieve pain and improve func-tion and range of motion in knee osteoarthritis patients (OA). The open packed position is the position where the joint play is maximized and the joint mobilizations are better tolerated by patients. Although this position is exten-ded in practice there are no studies about the intra-tester reliability of the knee open packed position localization test. Objective: to assess intra-tester reliability of the knee open packed position localization test in patients with knee OA. Material and method: a reliability study with nine subjects (68-98 years old) with knee OA was perfor-med Fifteen knees were evaluated. The open packed position localization test for the knee was evaluated with the patient in sitting position and the position was assessed with a goniometer. Two measures on alternate days were done to each participant. The intraclass correlation coefficient (CCI) at a 95 % confidence interval (CI 95 %), and the α-Cronbach coefficient were calculated. Standard error measurement (SEM) and minimal detectable difference were also calculated. Results: intra-tester reliability ICC was 0.99 (CI 95 %: 0.991-0.999). SEM was 0.308 and MDD 0.85. Conclusion: intra-tester reliability of the open packed position localization test for the knee in patients with knee OA was almost perfect.