OBJECTIVE: Endurance deficiencies of the deep cervical flexors are associated with pain, increased lordosis, and headache. A need exists for reliable clinical tests of flexor endurance. This study determined intrarater and interrater reliability of such a test in persons without neck pain. METHODS: Twenty-seven subjects (aged 20-35 years) without a history of neck pain or injury were tested. Supine subjects were timed in maintaining a position involving two components: (1) craniovertebral flexion (chin tuck) and (2) lower cervical flexion (holding the occiput at a fixed height). Each subject was examined twice by 3 different examiners with 1 to 2 days between trials. RESULTS: When two values were averaged, interrater reliability for the 3 testers was 0.83, 0.85, and 0.88. Intrarater reliability values were 0.78 and 0.85 for tests 1 and 2, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The flexor endurance test showed good intertester and intratester reliability when two values were averaged and, thus, may represent a useful clinical tool for practitioners involved in treating and preventing neck pain.
OBJECTIVE: Endurance deficiencies of the deep cervical flexors are associated with pain, increased lordosis, and headache. A need exists for reliable clinical tests of flexor endurance. This study determined intrarater and interrater reliability of such a test in persons without neck pain. METHODS: Twenty-seven subjects (aged 20-35 years) without a history of neck pain or injury were tested. Supine subjects were timed in maintaining a position involving two components: (1) craniovertebral flexion (chin tuck) and (2) lower cervical flexion (holding the occiput at a fixed height). Each subject was examined twice by 3 different examiners with 1 to 2 days between trials. RESULTS: When two values were averaged, interrater reliability for the 3 testers was 0.83, 0.85, and 0.88. Intrarater reliability values were 0.78 and 0.85 for tests 1 and 2, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The flexor endurance test showed good intertester and intratester reliability when two values were averaged and, thus, may represent a useful clinical tool for practitioners involved in treating and preventing neck pain.
Authors: Flavio M Silva; Jean-Michel Brismée; Phillip S Sizer; Troy L Hooper; Gary E Robinson; Alex B Diamond Journal: Musculoskelet Sci Pract Date: 2018-04-27 Impact factor: 2.520
Authors: Chantal H P de Koning; Sylvia P van den Heuvel; J Bart Staal; Bouwien C M Smits-Engelsman; Erik J M Hendriks Journal: BMC Musculoskelet Disord Date: 2008-10-19 Impact factor: 2.362
Authors: Sergio Parazza; Carla Vanti; Caroline O'Reilly; Jorge Hugo Villafañe; José Miguel Tricás Moreno; Elena Estébanez De Miguel Journal: Chiropr Man Therap Date: 2014-03-03