The reliability of a posterior-to-anterior spinal stiffness measuring system in a population of patients with low back pain

Edward F Owens Jr; James W DeVocht; David G Wilder; Maruti R Gudavalli; William C Meeker

doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2006.12.006

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The reliability of a posterior-to-anterior spinal stiffness measuring system in a population of patients with low back pain

Edward F Owens Jr, James W DeVocht, David G Wilder, Maruti R Gudavalli and William C Meeker

Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics, Vol.30(2), pp.116-123

02/2007

DOI: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2006.12.006

PMID: 17320732

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Abstract

A system for measuring posterior-to-anterior spinal stiffness (PAS) was developed for use in clinical trials of manipulation for low back pain. The reliability of this device is under investigation in this study. The PAS system uses electronic sensors to record displacement and force while a human operator provides the force of indentation. A test-retest design was used with measures repeated by the same operator within 5 minutes. Posterior-to-anterior loads were applied to each lumbar spinous process of patients lying prone on a hard flat bench. Force and displacement were recorded and used to calculate PAS. The subjects consisted of 22 males and 14 females; average age was 49.1 years (SD, 14.2). All subjects had low back pain of at least 4 weeks duration, with mean Roland-Morris scores of 7.6 (SD, 3.3). Spinal stiffness ranged from 4 to 26 N/mm (average, 11.2; SD, 3.5). Stiffness in the first and second tests varied on the average by 0.31 N/mm (P = .03). Standard error of the measurement was 1.62 N/mm. The single measures intraclass correlation coefficient (3,1) was 0.790 (95% confidence interval, 0.739-0.832). The equipment and method produced repeatable results over the short-term. The system may be sensitive enough to detect changes in spinal stiffness that occur with care.

Elasticity

Reproducibility of Results

Humans

Middle Aged

Physical Therapy Modalities - instrumentation

Spine - physiopathology

Male

Body Weights and Measures - instrumentation

Low Back Pain - diagnosis

Low Back Pain - physiopathology

Physical Therapy Modalities - statistics & numerical data

Adult

Female

Aged

Observer Variation

Details

Title: Subtitle: The reliability of a posterior-to-anterior spinal stiffness measuring system in a population of patients with low back pain
Creators: Edward F Owens Jr - Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research, Davenport, Iowa 52803, USA. edward.owens@palmer.edu
James W DeVocht
David G Wilder
Maruti R Gudavalli
William C Meeker
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics, Vol.30(2), pp.116-123
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2006.12.006
PMID: 17320732
NLM abbreviation: J Manipulative Physiol Ther
ISSN: 0161-4754
eISSN: 1532-6586
Publisher: United States
Grant note: R18 HP01423-01-01 / PHS HHS C06 RR15433-01 / NCRR NIH HHS U19 AT002006 / NCCIH NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 02/2007
Academic Unit: Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Occupational and Environmental Health
Record Identifier: 9984064245102771

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