Congenital muscular torticollis: the reliability of visual estimation in the assessment of cervical spine active rotation and head tilt by physiotherapists and the impact of clinical experience

Conclusion Visual estimation had excellent intra-rater reliability in the assessment of neck active rotation and head tilt on infants with congenital muscular torticollis. Visual estimation had acceptable inter-rater reliability in the assessment of neck active rotation but not of head tilt. There was a wide variation in reliability with no correlation between reliability and clinical experience. Assessment tools for head tilt that are more psychometrically robust should be developed.What is Known:• A thorough assessment of infants presenting with torticollis is essential, using assessment tools with robust psychometric properties• Visual estimation is the most commonly used method of assessment of neck function in infants with torticollisWhat is New:• Visual estimation had excellent intra-rater reliability in the assessment of neck active rotation and head tilt in the upright position in videos of infants and acceptable inter-rater reliability in the assessment of rotation but not of head tilt• Physiotherapists’ clinical experience had minimal relationship with reliability
Source: European Journal of Pediatrics - Category: Pediatrics Source Type: research