Abstract
Background The craniovertebral angle (CV angle) measurement is a convenient and easy clinical
method for the cervical posture assessment. “Markus Bader (MB) ruler software” assists
to measure angles and distances on the computer screen. The MB-ruler protractor is
almost transparent; hence, it can be easily used on the computer screen. Many studies
in physiotherapy have used this software for postural assessment with the photographic
method, but the reliability of this software is not available to our knowledge in
the Indian population.
Aim The aim of this study was to find inter-rater and intra-rater reliabilities of “MB-Ruler
software”, by using the photographic method to measure the CV angle for the cervical
postural assessment.
Study Design This is an observational study in healthy young population.
Subjects and Method Total 30 young student volunteers with no clinical symptoms were enrolled for this
study. A single standard lateral view image in a sitting position was used for CV
angle measurement with “MB ruler software.” Three readings of the CV angle were taken
by three different observers (A, B, and C) separately at intervals of time. The CV
angle measured by three observers was compared.
Results Cronbach's ɑ coefficient value for intra-rater (ICC 0.999) (intra-class correlation
coefficient) as well as inter-rater (ICC 0.892) reliability for measuring CV angle
was very high.
Conclusion MB ruler demonstrates high intra-rater and inter-rater reliabilities and can be used
for the photographic evaluation of posture by assessing the CV angle.
Keywords
MB ruler software - intra-rater reliability - inter-rater reliability - photographic
postural assessment
