Intertester and Intratester Reliability of Chest Expansion Measurement using a Cloth Tape

For chest expansion measurement to be useful clinically, all therapists should obtain similar values. Without an ability to replicate measurements, therapists can not universally interchange or interpret measurements. So the purpose of study was to evaluate intertester and intratester reliability of chest expansion measurement with cloth tape in healthy young male adults.

Cross sectional observational study.

Study was conducted at Government Physiotherapy College, Ahmedabad. Study includes 50 healthy male subjects with age group of 18 to 25 years and body mass index <25. Chest expansion was measured with cloth tape during 2 slow vital capacity maneuvers at axilla and xiphoid level in standing position by 2 investigators to determine intertester reliability and by same investigator after 20 minutes of rest to determine intratester reliability.

Intraclass Coefficient of Correlation was calculated which showed excellent intertester and intratester reliability (r=0.91 at xiphoid and r=0.72 at axilla). Z –test was applied to determine intertester reliability which showed insignificant differences in chest expansion values between 2 investigators. Results also showed greater reproducibility of chest expansion values at xiphoid than at axillary level.

The study shows excellent intertester and intratester reliability of chest expansion measurement in healthy young male adults. It also concludes beer reliability of chest expansion measurement at xiphoid level.