Reliability of the Expanded Cutting Alignment Scoring Tool (E-CAST) to Assess Trunk and Limb Alignment During a 45-Degree Side-Step Cut

Background Current clinical screening tools assessing risky movements during cutting maneuvers do not adequately address sagittal plane foot and ankle evaluations. The Cutting Alignment Scoring Tool (CAST) is reliable in evaluating frontal plane trunk and lower extremity alignment during a 45-degree side-step cut. The Expanded Cutting Alignment Scoring Tool (E-CAST) includes two new sagittal plane variables, knee flexion and ankle plantarflexion angle. Hypothesis/Purpose To assess the inter-and intra-rater reliability of the E-CAST to evaluate trunk and lower extremity alignment during a 45-degree side-step cut. Study Design Repeated Measures Methods Participants included 25 healthy females (13.8 ± 1.4 years) regularly participating in cutting or pivoting sports. Participants were recorded performing a side-step cut in frontal and sagittal planes. One trial was randomly selected for analysis. Two physical therapists independently scored each video using the E-CAST on two separate occasions, with randomization and a two-week wash-out between rounds. Observed movement variables were awarded a score of “1”, with higher scores representing poorer technique. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and 95% confident intervals (95% CI) were calculated for the total score, and a kappa coefficient (k) was calculated for each variable. Results The cumulative intra-rater reliability was good (ICC=0.78, 95% CI 0.59-0.96) and the cumulative inter-rater reliability was moderate (ICC=0.71, 95% CI 0.50-0.91). Intra-rater kappa coefficients ranged from moderate to excellent for all variables (k= 0.50-0.84) and inter-rater kappa coefficients ranged from slight to excellent for all variables (k=0.20-0.90). Conclusion The addition of two sagittal plane variables resulted in lower inter-rater ICC compared to the CAST (ICC= 0.81, 95% CI 0.64-0.91). The E-CAST is a reliable tool to evaluate trunk and LE alignment during a 45-degree side-step cut, with good intra-rater and moderate inter-rater reliability. Level of Evidence Level 2, Diagnosis.