Abstract

Background. High risk infants (HRI) are more vulnerable for neurodevelopmental delay and require periodic developmental assessment at first year of life to prevent and identify the neuromotor deficit at an early age. Clinically visual method is widely followed in evaluating muscle tone using Amiel tison angles (ATA) in HRI but erroneous interpretation of ATA might have consequences in identification and management of subtle tonal deviation. This study intends compare the visual and Goniometric assessment and inter observer difference in the assessment of muscle tone using ATA in HRI.

Methods. 37 HRI who met the inclusion criteria were included and two Physiotherapists with similar qualifications who work in the area of paediatrics participated in the study. The first assessor assessed the ATA visually followed by Goniometric assessment which was followed by visual assessment of ATA by the second assessor.

Results. Unpaired t test was used to compare the difference between goniometric and visual assessment which showed statistically significant difference with p < 0.05. Intraclass correlation coefficient test was used to analyse the inter observer difference. Adductor and Heel to ear angles showed an excellent correlation and popliteal angle showed good correlation with ICC value of 0.97, 0.91and 0.79 respectively.

Conclusion. The result shows that interobserver difference of visual assessment is acceptable but emphasizes that the assessor should gain experience in visually assessing the angles trained initially by using goniometer to prevent erroneous interpretation which could reduce the difference between visual and goniometric estimates in the later stage.

Key words:

high risk infants, amiel tison angle, visual assessment, inter observer difference