Test-retest reliability of joint position sense in the carpometacarpal joint among healthy adults.

BACKGROUND

Accurate proprioception in the thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint is necessary during activities such as performing fine manipulative tasks, such as coin handling, opening doors, using keys, and pressing control buttons.

PURPOSE

The primary aim of the present study was to examine the test-retest reliability of CMC joint position sense (JPS) in healthy subjects. The secondary aim was to determine the most reliable JPS testing position for the thumb CMC joint.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of healthy adults.

METHODS

Three thumb positions (20°, 30°, and 40° of thumb abduction) were measured twice on the same day by a single rater using a universal goniometer. The absolute error in degrees between each position and reposition was calculated. The intraclass correlation coefficient (2,1) was calculated for relative reliability. The standard error of the measurement was calculated.

RESULTS

Sixty-four healthy adults (mean age 27.8 years, standard deviation = 8.7) were assessed. The intraclass correlation coefficients were poor (-0.08 to 0.22), and the standard error of the measurement was 1.4° for all positions.

CONCLUSIONS

The joint position reproduction test for JPS using goniometry demonstrated poor test-retest reliability and acceptable measurement error in healthy adults.