Validity and Reliability of Electronic Head Posture Instrument  for Measurement of Cranio-Horizontal Angle, Craniovertebral  Angle and Sagittal Shoulder Angle

Authors

Head Posture, EHPI Smart Tool, Surgimap software, CHA, CVA, SSA

Background: Forward head posture (FHP) means that the head is in an anterior position in relation to

the postural line and it is considered to coexist with hyperextension of upper cervical spine, flattening of

lower cervical spine, rounding of the upper back and elevation and protraction of the shoulders. Because of

associated problems, assessment of head posture has become increasingly important in clinical practices in

evaluating and designing treatment regimens.

For clinical diagnosis, angle measurements have been utilized as information for evaluating physical

characteristics, determining the effects of rehabilitation and preventing injury induced by physical activity.

There are various software’s available for measuring angles, one of them being Surgimap. In recent years,

angle measurements using Electronic head posture instrument (EHPI) have been clinically researched as new

angle measurement methods for the forward head posture apart from photographic measurement methods.

Thus, this study evaluated the validity and reliability of the EHPI in measuring Head posture angles with

Surgimap photograhic method in young healthy subjects.

Methodology: Ethical approval for the study was granted and cross sectional observational study was

conducted for validity and reliability at outpatient department. After written consent the subjects were made

to understand the purpose of the study. Craniovertebral angle, Cranio-horizontal angle and Sagittal shoulder

angle was measured using Electronic Head Posture Instrument and Photographic Method through Surgimap

software. The research constituted of three researchers and intra rater reliability, inter rater reliability and

validity was analyzed.

Results: Data analysis was done using SPSS 20.0 version and the statistical significance level was set at

p<0.05. Intra rater reliability was found to be CHA=0. 95, CVA=0.92 and SSA=0.96, Inter rater reliability

was found to be CHA= 0.98, CVA= 0.90 and SSA= 0.78. Correlation between different angles was found

as CHA=0.95, CVA=0.79 and SSA=0.62.

Conclusion: EHPI is a valid and reliable tool in clinically assessing and evaluating CHA, CVA and SSA