The inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of capturing foot parameters utilising a computerised white light three dimensional scanner
Date
2014-08-27
Authors
Alexander, Howard E
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Abstract
Within the context of sports medicine, biomechanical corrective custom foot orthoses are utilised as a treatment intervention to correct pathological gait disorders. In order to manufacture such corrective devices a replicate model of the patients’ foot needs to be obtained. This study aimed to assess both the inter-rater reliability and the intra-rater repeatability of a semi weight bearing foot modelling technique employing a three dimensional white light surface foot scanner.
The sample cohort included twenty healthy male and female subjects with ages ranging from 18-70 years. Six qualified Podiatrists were utilised as raters to perform the foot placements on the white light scanner. All raters and participants were given a ten minute training session to familiarise them with the equipment and scanning procedure. The subjects’ left foot was marked and raters positioned and scanned the left foot three times. Digital foot parameter measurements of medial arch height, forefoot width, foot length and rearfoot width were recorded and analysed.
The results from this study showed high inter-rater reliability with intraclass correlation coefficients ranging from 0.997 to 1.00 with the specified foot parameter measurements. Intra-rater repeatability of the same specified foot parameter measurements demonstrated good repeatability with Pearson coefficients of correlation values ranging from 0.973 to 0.997.
The assessment of the reliability of computerised digital white light scanning as an integral first step in the manufacture of custom foot orthoses has a direct effect on Podiatric practice and the outcomes of patient treatments with this therapeutic modality.
Description
Thesis (M.Sc.(Sports Medicine))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences, 2014.