Intra- and Inter-rater Reliability of Evaluation of the Thoracic Kyphosis Angle with a Digital Inclinometer

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the intra- and inter-rater reliabilities of the evaluation method of thoracic kyphosis using a digital inclinometer. [Participants and Methods] Two examiners measured the thoracic kyphosis angle of 10 participants using a digital inclinometer. The intra- and inter-rater reliabilities and minimum detectable change were determined using the measurement results. [Results] ICC (1,1) was 0.91–0.93, ICC (1,2) was 0.95–0.96, ICC (2,1) was 0.75–0.80, and ICC (2,2) was 0.91. The minimum detectable change of inter-rater reliability was lower when the mean value was measured twice than once. [Conclusion] The results suggest that the measurement of the thoracic kyphosis angle with a digital inclinometer could be used clinically with two or more measurements.