Smart Mobile Phone Applications for Measuring Knee Range of Motion

Knee range of motion is an important indicator of function in both the native and surgically replaced knee. In the clinical setting, range of motion can be adequately evaluated by the surgeon either visually or with the assistance of a goniometer. Comparatively, patients may not be as experienced in estimating their knee range of motion (ROM) outside of clinic or the hospital. Developing a mobile application through which patients can easily assess their knee ROM may provide a more accessible tool for measuring progress in regaining function. The purpose of this study was to validate a mobile phone application developed to measure knee ROM, when compared to visual-based and goniometer-based ROM measurements obtained in an Orthopedic clinic setting.