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Objective: The purposes of this study were to determine the intrarater and interrater reliability of the craniocervical posture in a sagittal view using quantitative measurements on photographs and radiographs and to determine the agreement of the visual assessment of posture between raters., Methods: One photograph and 1 radiograph of the sagittal craniocervical posture were simultaneously taken from 39 healthy female subjects. Three angles were measured on the photographs and 10 angles on the radiographs of 22 subjects using Alcimage software (Alcimage; Uberlândia, MG, Brazil). Two repeated measurements were performed by 2 raters. The measurements were compared within and between raters to test the intrarater and interrater reliability, respectively. Intraclass correlation coefficient and SEM were used. κ Agreement was calculated for the visual assessment of 39 subjects using photographs and radiographs between 2 raters., Results: Good to excellent intrarater and interrater intraclass correlation coefficient values were found on both photographs and radiographs. Interrater SEM was large and clinically significant for cervical lordosis photogrammetry and for 1 angle measuring cervical lordosis on radiographs. Interrater κ agreement for the visual assessment using photographs was poor (κ = 0.37)., Conclusion: The raters were reliable to measure angles in photographs and radiographs to quantify craniocervical posture with exception of 2 angles measuring lordosis of the cervical spine when compared between raters. The visual assessment of posture between raters was not reliable., (© 2013. Published by National University of Health Sciences All rights reserved.)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of a physical therapist to place surface markers on the skin over spinous process of C2, C4, C6, and C7 by evaluating the markers positioning using radiographs. A total of 39 healthy female subjects participated. From 39 subjects, 22 had 2 radiographs taken and 17 had 1 radiograph taken. This study presents the results from the 22 subjects and from all 39 subjects together. The markers used were visible on the radiographs. The surface markers placement was tested by using percentage agreement. The criteria used were based on the direction of palpation. Only the markers placed that presented the center of the markers tip aligned to the tip of the spinous process was considered an acceptable placement. Only one level of agreement was considered. A misplaced marker was measured by its relation with the vertebra above or below. From the 22 subjects, the total percentage of agreement was 87.5%. Of the 12.5% error, 1.7% (3) occurred attempting to find C2; 4.5% (8) for C4; 3.4% (6) for C6; and 2.8% (5) for C7. From the total of 39 subjects, the total percentage of agreement was 87.8%. Of the 12.2% error 1.3% (2) occurred attempting to find C2; 2.6% (4) for C4; 3.2% (5) for C6; and 5.2% (8) for C7. Based on the results from this study, clinicians and researchers should take into account possible errors on surface markers placement on the cervical spine when measuring craniocervical posture using photographs., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The objective of this study was to measure the reproducibility of the craniocervical posture (intrasubject reliability) of asymptomatic female subjects., Methods: Two radiographs of the craniocervical posture of 22 female subjects (mean ± SD: age, 28 ± 4.37 years; body mass index, 22.3 ± 3.24 kg/m(2)) in the sagittal view were taken 1 week apart and at the same time of day. Their posture was standardized in the self-balance position. Seven angles were measured in the digitalized radiographs and analyzed using the Alcimage software (Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil). Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), SEM, and 95% confidence intervals were analyzed., Results: Good-to-excellent ICC (ICC, 0.90-0.98) and small SEM (SEM, 0.25-0.70) were found., Conclusion: The craniocervical posture of the subjects included in this study was reproducible (ie, intrasubject reliability) when measured a week apart using radiographs., (Copyright © 2013 National University of Health Sciences. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)