Repeatability and reproducibility of the pressure biofeedback unit.

INTRODUCTION: Although the pressure biofeedback unit (PBU) is used for muscular assessment and training, there is little evidence of its reproducibility and repeatability. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess intra- and inter-rater reproducibility and repeatability of the PBU in the assessment of the transverse abdominal (TrA), internal oblique (IO), low back multifidi, and deep neck flexors (DNF). METHODS: Fifty individuals had three muscular groups tested: TrA/IO, lower back multifidi, and DNF. For repeatability, one rater did three consecutive measures; for intra-rater reproducibility the same rater did two measures with seven-day intervals, and for inter-rater reproducibility, three raters, on the same day, did the measures. Data were analyzed with: Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), Standard Error of Measurement (SEM), and Minimal Detectable Change (MDC). (α = 0,05). RESULTS: Repeatability: TrA/IO (ICC = 0.847), Multifidi (ICC = 0.860), DNF (ICC = 0.831). Inter-rater reproducibility: TrA/IO (ICC = 0.876), Multifidi (ICC = 0.508), DNF (ICC = 0.442). Intra-rater reproducibility: TrA/IO (ICC = 0.747), Multifidi (ICC = 0.293), DNF (ICC = 0.685). Except for Multifidi, all the SEM values were less than 10 mmHg and the MDC values were less than 15 mmHg. CONCLUSIONS: The PBU can be used with reliability by different evaluators, although the evaluation of multifidi is not indicated.

Back Pain and Body Posture Evaluation Instrument for Adults: Expansion and Reproducibility.

BACKGROUND: The BackPEI questionnaire was developed and validated just exclusively to evaluate children. AIMS: To propose, validate, and test the reproducibility of an expanded version of the Back Pain and Body Posture Evaluation Instrument (BackPEI), originally designed to assess back pain in school-aged children, for use with adults. DESIGN: Validation Study. METHODS: Five questions from the original BackPEI were replaced, resulting in the revised instrument (BackPEI-A) containing 20 questions. Three experts checked the content validity of the revised instrument, and the reproducibility was tested by trialing the questionnaire with 154 adults. RESULTS: The reproducibility data for the questions regarding pain intensity, analyzed using the Wilcoxon test and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), indicated that (a) there was no difference between the medians and (b) the answers were highly correlated, both for lower back (p = .574) (ICC = 0.908) and cervical (p = .968) (ICC = 0.865) pain. The reproducibility data for the remaining questions analyzed using the κ coefficient were classified as moderate (0.4 < κ ≤ 0.6) or very good (κ > 0.8). CONCLUSION: The BackPEI-A is a reproducible, valid, and reliable instrument for use in the evaluation of back and neck pain and their associated risk factors. The instrument also facilitates the evaluation of postural habits in activities of daily living in adults.