6533b82cfe1ef96bd128f374

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Inter- and intra-tester reliability of selected clinical tests in examining patients with early phase lumbar spine and sacroiliac joint pain and dysfunction

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AbstractOf all patients with low back pain (LBP), 85% are diagnosed as “non-specific lumbar pain”. It has been postulated that the only reliable test is a straight leg raise test for detecting sciatic pain, and for other diagnostic subgroups, tests are of varying value. Only a few standardized tests exist to test function, inspection, mobility, pain, muscle flexibility or stability for patients with early phase lumbar spine and sacroiliac joint pain and dysfunction in the non-laboratory setting. The aim of this study was therefore to examine the inter- and intra-tester reliability of selected standardized clinical tests. Fifteen eligible, consecutive and voluntary LBP patients (aged 18–56 years), whose pain had lasted less than 3 months were recruited by an invitation letter. Patients were examined by two physiotherapists specialized in orthopaedic manual therapy. These PTs examined the same patients at a 1-week interval, changing the examination order at the second session. The assessment consisted of se...