Exploring the Potential of AI-Assisted Technology in Joint Range-of-Motion Measurements: A Reliability Study

<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Measuring joint range of motion (ROM) is essential for diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal diseases. However, most clinical measurements are conducted using conventional devices, and their reliability may significantly depend on the tester. This stud...

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Main Authors: Gisoo Lee, Eric W. Tan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Medicina
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/1/119
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author Gisoo Lee
Eric W. Tan
author_facet Gisoo Lee
Eric W. Tan
author_sort Gisoo Lee
collection DOAJ
description <i>Background and Objectives</i>: Measuring joint range of motion (ROM) is essential for diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal diseases. However, most clinical measurements are conducted using conventional devices, and their reliability may significantly depend on the tester. This study implemented an RGB-D (red/green/blue-depth) sensor-based artificial intelligence (AI) device to measure joint ROM and compared its reliability with that of a universal goniometer (UG). <i>Materials and Methods</i>: A single-center study was conducted from January 2022 to December 2022 on participants visiting the Chung-nam National University Hospital to compare the reliability of the RGB-D sensor-based AI device with that of the UG for measuring ROM. The ROM of the shoulder, hip, and lumbar spine joints was measured in 35 healthy participants in our hospital. The ROM was measured during active motion by the participants in the standing position. The ROM was measured twice consecutively using the RGB-D sensor-based AI device, and the mean values were obtained along with other values. A clinician also measured the ROM twice using a UG. Bland–Altman analysis was performed to evaluate the reliability of the measurements, which was assessed using intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). An ICC value greater than 0.90 indicates excellent reliability. <i>Results</i>: Both methods achieved good-to-excellent intra-test reliability results (ICC > 0.75) for all the joints, with the reliability being slightly higher for the RGB-D sensor-based AI method than for the UG measurements. Moreover, for both methods, the inter-test reliability was higher than good (ICC > 0.75) for shoulder and lumbar joint ROM measurements but lower than good (ICC < 0.75) for hip ROM measurements. <i>Conclusions</i>: This study compared the efficacies of the RGB-D sensor-based AI method and UG in measuring ROM. In the future, this RGB-D sensor-based AI method should be technologically improved, and the measurement methods and protocols should be standardized.
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spelling doaj-art-c1a327cd3f0c46dcae823bd655412c0c2025-01-24T13:40:42ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X1648-91442025-01-0161111910.3390/medicina61010119Exploring the Potential of AI-Assisted Technology in Joint Range-of-Motion Measurements: A Reliability StudyGisoo Lee0Eric W. Tan1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon 34134, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, The Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Measuring joint range of motion (ROM) is essential for diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal diseases. However, most clinical measurements are conducted using conventional devices, and their reliability may significantly depend on the tester. This study implemented an RGB-D (red/green/blue-depth) sensor-based artificial intelligence (AI) device to measure joint ROM and compared its reliability with that of a universal goniometer (UG). <i>Materials and Methods</i>: A single-center study was conducted from January 2022 to December 2022 on participants visiting the Chung-nam National University Hospital to compare the reliability of the RGB-D sensor-based AI device with that of the UG for measuring ROM. The ROM of the shoulder, hip, and lumbar spine joints was measured in 35 healthy participants in our hospital. The ROM was measured during active motion by the participants in the standing position. The ROM was measured twice consecutively using the RGB-D sensor-based AI device, and the mean values were obtained along with other values. A clinician also measured the ROM twice using a UG. Bland–Altman analysis was performed to evaluate the reliability of the measurements, which was assessed using intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). An ICC value greater than 0.90 indicates excellent reliability. <i>Results</i>: Both methods achieved good-to-excellent intra-test reliability results (ICC > 0.75) for all the joints, with the reliability being slightly higher for the RGB-D sensor-based AI method than for the UG measurements. Moreover, for both methods, the inter-test reliability was higher than good (ICC > 0.75) for shoulder and lumbar joint ROM measurements but lower than good (ICC < 0.75) for hip ROM measurements. <i>Conclusions</i>: This study compared the efficacies of the RGB-D sensor-based AI method and UG in measuring ROM. In the future, this RGB-D sensor-based AI method should be technologically improved, and the measurement methods and protocols should be standardized.https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/1/119POM-checkergoniometryreliability and validityartificial intelligencestanding position
spellingShingle Gisoo Lee
Eric W. Tan
Exploring the Potential of AI-Assisted Technology in Joint Range-of-Motion Measurements: A Reliability Study
Medicina
POM-checker
goniometry
reliability and validity
artificial intelligence
standing position
title Exploring the Potential of AI-Assisted Technology in Joint Range-of-Motion Measurements: A Reliability Study
title_full Exploring the Potential of AI-Assisted Technology in Joint Range-of-Motion Measurements: A Reliability Study
title_fullStr Exploring the Potential of AI-Assisted Technology in Joint Range-of-Motion Measurements: A Reliability Study
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the Potential of AI-Assisted Technology in Joint Range-of-Motion Measurements: A Reliability Study
title_short Exploring the Potential of AI-Assisted Technology in Joint Range-of-Motion Measurements: A Reliability Study
title_sort exploring the potential of ai assisted technology in joint range of motion measurements a reliability study
topic POM-checker
goniometry
reliability and validity
artificial intelligence
standing position
url https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/1/119
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