Reliability of thoracic spine rotation range-of-motion measurements in healthy adults (original) (raw)

Intra- and inter-rater reliability of thoracic spine mobility and posture assessments in subjects with thoracic spine pain

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 2020

Background The thoracic spine (TS) has been neglected in the study of the spine despite its essential role in the stability and posture of the entire spinal complex. Therefore, there is an inevitable need to investigate the reproducibility of different thoracic spinal posture measures used in subjects with TS pain. Methods Thirty-two subjects (16 females and 16 males, mean age 39 years) were evaluated by two physiotherapists on the same day to gauge inter-rater reliability and on two consecutive days to gauge intra-rater reliability. TS posture was assessed by observation, and thoracic spine mobility was measured by manual assessment of segmental flexion and extension mobility in a seated position. Additionally, posterior-to-anterior accessory mobility in a prone position was assessed manually. Moreover, cervicothoracic flexion in a seated position, thoracic posture, and thoracic flexion and extension mobility in a standing position were assessed with a tape measure, and flexion and...

Analysis of the Active Measurement Systems of the Thoracic Range of Movements of the Spine: A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis

Sensors, 2022

Objective: to analyze current active noninvasive measurement systems of the thoracic range of movements of the spine. (2) Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed that included observational or clinical trial studies published in English or Spanish, whose subjects were healthy human males or females ≥18 years of age with reported measurements of thoracic range of motion measured with an active system in either flexion, extension, lateral bending, or axial rotation. All studies that passed the screening had a low risk of bias and good methodological results, according to the PEDro and MINORS scales. The mean values and 95% confidence interval of the reported measures were calculated for different types of device groups. To calculate the differences between the type of device measures, studies were pooled for different types of device groups using Review Manager software. (3) Results: 48 studies were included in the review; all had scores higher than 7.5 over 10 on the PEDro and MINORs methodological rating scales, collecting a total of 2365 healthy subjects, 1053 males and 1312 females; they were 39.24 ± 20.64 years old and had 24.44 ± 3.81 kg/m2 body mass indexes on average. We summarized and analyzed a total of 11,892 measurements: 1298 of flexoextension, 1394 of flexion, 1021 of extension, 491 of side-to-side lateral flexion, 637 of right lateral flexion, 607 of left lateral flexion, 2170 of side-to-side rotation, 2152 of right rotation and 2122 of left rotation. (4) Conclusions: All collected and analyzed measurements of physiological movements of the dorsal spine had very disparate results from each other, the cause of the reason for such analysis is that the measurement protocols of the different types of measurement tools used in these measurements are different and cause measurement biases. To solve this, it is proposed to establish a standardized measurement protocol for all tools.

Assessment of Thoracic and Lumbar Spine Range of Motion: Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

2019

The spine presents distinct mobility and characteristics according to the anatomical region, and there are several instruments that allow it to be assessed. This systematic review aimed to identify methods and instruments used to assess the range of motion of the thoracic and lumbar spine in the sagittal plane, with confirmed validity and/or repeatability and/or reproducibility, evidencing their respective psychometric indexes. Searches were conducted on BIREME, EMBASE, PEDro, PubMed, Science Direct, SCOPUS and Web of Science databases, and there were manual searches as well. Two independent reviewers selected the studies, extracted data, evaluated methodological quality, risk of bias, and evidence (GRADE). A total of 46 studies were included in the qualitative analysis, seven of which only were included in the quantitative analysis. There is scientific evidence, confirmed by meta-analysis, on the inter-rater reproducibility of the measuring tape instrument in the modified Schöber&#...

Validity and Absolute Reliability of Axial Vertebral Rotation Measurements in Thoracic and Lumbar Vertebrae

Applied Sciences, 2021

Axial vertebral rotation (AVR) and Cobb angles are the essential parameters to analyse different types of scoliosis, including adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. The literature shows significant discrepancies in the validity and reliability of AVR measurements taken in radiographic examinations, according to the type of vertebra. This study’s scope evaluated the validity and absolute reliability of thoracic and lumbar vertebrae AVR measurements, using a validated software based on Raimondi’s method in digital X-rays that allowed measurement with minor error when compared with other traditional, manual methods. Twelve independent evaluators measured AVR on the 74 most rotated vertebrae in 42 X-rays with the software on three separate occasions, with one-month intervals. We have obtained a gold standard for the AVR of vertebrae. The validity and reliability of the measurements of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae were studied separately. Measurements that were performed on lumbar verteb...

Reliability of the Cervical Spine Device for the Assessment of Cervical Spine Range of Motion in Asymptomatic Participants

Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics, 2018

The purpose of this study was to assess the inter- and intra-assessor reliability of the cervical spine device (Formetric, DIERS International GmbH, Schlangenbad, Germany) in measuring cervical range of motion. The cervical spine device was used to measure the cervical range of motion of 65 asymptomatic participants. Flexion-extension, right and left rotation, and right and left lateral flexion were analyzed. Two different assessors performed the measurements on the same day to estimate inter-assessor reliability and 2 days later to examine intra-assessor reliability. Intra-assessor and inter-assessor reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The standard error of measurement (SEM) and the smallest detectable difference (SDD) were also estimated. Inter-assessor reliability ICCs for flexion + extension and total lateral flexion movements were >0.90. The ICCs for rotation movements and for left lateral flexion were >0.70. The ICCs for flexion (...