Reproducibility of lumbar spine range of motion measurements using the back range of motion device.

STUDY DESIGN: Single-group repeated measures for single rater reliability. OBJECTIVES: To describe the intratester reliability for measurements of active lumbar spine mobility and pelvic inclination during standing obtained with the back range-of-motion (BROM) device. BACKGROUND: The BROM device has often been used to quantify lumbar spine active range of motion. No studies have reported the reliability of the BROM device in a clinical setting. METHODS AND MEASURES: One examiner measured all 3 planes of lumbar range of motion in 40 nonimpaired subjects. For each plane of motion, 2 BROM device measurements were made. Intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated to express the intratester reliability for each plane of motion measured. RESULTS: Intraclass correlation coefficients were in the range of 0.67 to 0.94 for lumbar measurements with the BROM device. CONCLUSIONS: Intratester reliability was fair to poor for sagittal plane measurements and pelvic inclination. Measurements obtained by the same examiner for lumbar lateral flexion and rotation with the BROM device, however, were reliable.

Reliability of measuring forward head posture in a clinical setting.

We believe there is a need to identify a practical method for determining objective measurement of forward head posture. In our study, we determined the within-tester and between-tester reliabilities for clinical measurements of static, sitting, forward head posture using the cervical range of motion (CROM) instrument. Repeated measurements were made using a standardized protocol on 40 patients seated in a standardized position. The seven testers had from 1 to 8 years of clinical experience. All measurements were recorded by the same investigator. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC[1,1]) was used to quantitate within-tester and between-tester reliability. Measurements of forward head position performed by the same physical therapist had high reliability (ICC = 0.93). Good reliability (ICC = 0.83) was demonstrated when different physical therapists measured the forward head posture of the same patient. We concluded that measurements of forward head posture made by physical therapists trained in the correct use of the CROM instrument are reliable. This reliability is important for determining the effectiveness of treatment programs. On the basis of our data, the CROM instrument will assist clinicians in the objective evaluation and reassessment of the patient population demonstrating forward head posture.

EMG muscle scanning: comparison to attached surface electrodes.

Electromyographic (EMG) muscle scanning measures brief samples of integrated muscle action potentials from individual muscles using a hand-held scanner with post-style electrodes. This "scanning" technique is widely used by biofeedback practitioners to quickly assess muscle activity in the diagnosis of musculoskeletal disorders. In an effort to compare muscle scanning with the established technique using attached surface electrodes, ten healthy subjects (25-35 years old) were scanned using 2-second sampling at five bilateral muscle sites while simultaneously monitoring the same sites with surface electrodes. This was repeated using 10-second scanning samplings. Pearson's product-moment correlations between scanning for 2 seconds and prolonged surface recording at all sites were 0.54-0.89. Scanning for 10 seconds improved the correlations to 0.68-0.91. EMG scanning for 2 seconds compares favorably with attached surface electrode recording. Comparisons are further improved by 10-second scans.