Is Wrist Range of Motion (ROM) Measured via Photographs Accurate Enough for Remote Assessment of Patients?

Description

The presentation by Zafeiria Glaris addresses the reliability of assessing wrist range of motion through photographs compared to traditional in-person measurements. The study highlights the importance of accurately measuring range of motion for evaluating treatment outcomes in patients with wrist pathologies, especially as remote assessments became crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous studies assessed wrist motion using photographs taken by research staff, prompting this study to investigate patient-provided photographs for validation.



A total of six participants were involved, and their range of motion was previously measured in-person using a goniometer. Participants then submitted photographs to be evaluated using ImageJ software, following a specific protocol developed collaboratively. The study compared in-person assessments against the measurements derived from photographs, focusing on parameters such as supination, pronation, flexion, extension, and deviation.



Results indicated that most measurements showed no significant difference between in-person and virtual assessments, suggesting that remote assessments can yield satisfactory results. However, limitations were noted, including a small sample size and potential issues with the quality of photographs. The study concludes that while remote assessments are valuable, further research is needed, particularly concerning the reliability of measuring pronation and supination.

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