Validation of the Muscle Tightness Measurement Tool.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

For nurses, muscle tightness is an important aspect of patient care, but no bedside tool is available that allows them to measure it. Therefore, a standardized tool that measures muscle tightness is needed. The purpose of this study was to validate a tool to measure muscle tightness.

METHODS

Using Delphi technique and quantitative design, the tool was validated in two phases. The phase 1 included 20 expert clinicians who established content validity with Lawshe's rating. In phase 2, divergent validity was established by administering the tool to one group that had muscle tightness ( = 26) and one group that did not ( = 20).

RESULTS

Findings indicate that the muscle tightness measurement tool has content and divergent validity.

CONCLUSIONS

Further tool refinement with validity and reliability studies are recommended for clinical practice.