Mobility-Focused Physical Outcome Measures Over Telecommunication Technology (Zoom): Intra and Interrater Reliability Trial.
Marie-Louise Bird, Felix Peel, Matt Schmidt and 9 others
PMID 35994327WHAT IT FOUND
Grip strength and functional reach scores match in-person results when done over Zoom.
Timed tests like the 3-meter walk are unreliable because of lag, recording times about 1 second slower than in-person checks.
Key findings
01Grip Strength and Functional Reach Test showed excellent reliability (ICC=0.99) when comparing telehealth to in-person assessments.
02Timed tests dependent on reaction time showed poor to moderate reliability, with telehealth recordings consistently longer by about 1 second due to lag.
03Static Balance Test reliability could not be calculated because all participants achieved the maximum score, creating a ceiling effect.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study only included healthy adults aged 18-60, so the results may not apply to older or more impaired clinical populations who might move slower. The impact of internet bandwidth and latency on the timing errors was not controlled or measured. Some participants were familiar with the tests, which could have influenced their performance. The study did not account for the variability in scores that is typical in clinical practice, as all participants performed relatively well.
Declared interests
One author disclosed ownership interest in Hydro Functional Pty Ltd.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that a 1-second difference in a timed test over Zoom indicates patient decline. The study found that telehealth recordings were consistently about 1 second longer than in-person recordings due to video lag, not patient performance.