. In Table 21, p= 0.43, thus not evidencing significant difference between the groups. Table 21 Comparison http://www.selleckchem.com/products/nutlin-3a.html between the groups 1 (scholars), 2 (physiotherapists) and 3 (hand therapists) in angle 2 (flexion of the proximal interphalangeal of the second finger) for method 3 (ALCimagem photogrammetry?). In Table 22, p= 0.25, thus not evidencing significant difference between the groups. Table 22 Comparison between the groups 1 (scholars), 2 (physiotherapists) and 3 (hand therapists) in angle 3 (flexion of the metacarpophalangeal of the fifth finger) for method 1 (goniometry). In Table 23 we observed p= 0.16, thus not evidencing significant difference between the groups. Table 23 Comparison between the groups 1 (scholars), 2 (physiotherapists) and 3 (hand therapists) in angle 3 (flexion of the metacarpophalangeal of the fifth finger) for method 2 (Corel Draw photogrammetry?).

In Table 24 we observed p= 0.69, thus not evidencing significant difference between the groups. Table 24 Comparison between the groups 1 (scholars), 2 (physiotherapists) and 3 (hand therapists) in angle 3 (flexion of the metacarpophalangeal of the fifth finger) for method 3 (ALCimagem photogrammetry?). DISCUSSION Due to the pioneer nature of the application of the instruments studied (adapted goniometer and two items of photogrammetry software) in a plaster-strengthened wax hand mold, some stages of the evaluation had to be adapted by the examiners according to the best method found in relation to the positioning of the hand for specific evaluation by each one.

The fact that the study subject was made of wax, despite having been molded on a human hand, imposed some limitations in the study and may have proved a hindrance to some volunteers in the handling and positioning of the goniometer as well as in the evaluation of the photos, which on the other hand, allowed the standardization of the angular measures. There is a considerable error of goniometry when two or more examiners are assessed; hence it is advisable for the same therapist to monitor the measurements throughout the physiotherapeutic approach.18 Some studies found greater reliability in the evaluation carried out by photogrammetry than in the evaluation carried out through postural inspection.19 Reliability is related to the consistency with which the observations can be measured and recorded.

Reliability and validity evaluation methods depend on the purpose of the survey, hypotheses and methodologies, and may involve quantitative, as well as qualitative evaluations.20 In our environment and also in literature, studies on goniometry Anacetrapib and photogrammetry of the hand are scarce, so this was one of the reasons for the development of this investigation, as we only came across studies evidencing their use in postural and mandibular dysfunctions, larger joints, studies with cadavers, head and neck posture, and evaluation of the functional hand.