THE RELIABILITY BETWEEN SMARTPHONE GONIOMETER APPLICATION AND TRADITIONAL GONIOMETER FOR MEASURING FIRST METATARSOPHALANGEAL JOINT DORSIFLEXION

Abstract

Objective:
Accurate assessment of joint range of motion (ROM) is fundamental in musculoskeletal evaluation, diagnosis, and rehabilitation. With the increasing integration of smartphone technology into healthcare, mobile applications designed to measure joint angles have gained attention as potential alternatives to traditional tools. The objective of this study was to determine the reliability of a smartphone-based goniometer application compared with a traditional universal goniometer for measuring passive dorsiflexion of the first metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ).

Methods:
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among healthy, physically active individuals aged 18–40 years recruited from COMSATS University Islamabad. Passive dorsiflexion of the first MTPJ was measured using both a traditional universal goniometer and a smartphone goniometer application (Goniometer Records). Measurements were performed by a single examiner following standardized procedures to minimize variability. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25.0. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and reliability between the two measurement methods was assessed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Cronbach’s alpha.

Results:
Eighty participants (31 males and 49 females) were included in the analysis. The mean dorsiflexion angle measured using the universal goniometer was 59.21° ± 6.34°, whereas the smartphone application recorded a mean of 56.10° ± 5.86°. Reliability analysis demonstrated a strong positive correlation between the two measurement methods (r = 0.887). Internal consistency between the instruments was excellent, with a Cronbach’s alpha value of 0.939.

Conclusion:
The findings indicate that the smartphone goniometer application is highly reliable when compared with the traditional universal goniometer for measuring first MTPJ dorsiflexion. Given its accessibility, ease of use, and reliable performance, smartphone-based goniometry may serve as a practical alternative for joint ROM assessment in clinical and rehabilitation settings.