OBJECTIVE: 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. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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). CONCLUSIONS: 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.
OBJECTIVE: 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. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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). CONCLUSIONS: 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.
Authors: Edward F Owens; James W DeVocht; M Ram Gudavalli; David G Wilder; William C Meeker Journal: J Manipulative Physiol Ther Date: 2007-09 Impact factor: 1.437
Authors: Ting Xia; Cynthia R Long; Robert D Vining; Maruti R Gudavalli; James W DeVocht; Gregory N Kawchuk; David G Wilder; Christine M Goertz Journal: BMC Complement Altern Med Date: 2017-06-09 Impact factor: 3.659
Authors: John J Triano; Brian Budgell; Angela Bagnulo; Benjamin Roffey; Thomas Bergmann; Robert Cooperstein; Brian Gleberzon; Christopher Good; Jacquelyn Perron; Rodger Tepe Journal: Chiropr Man Therap Date: 2013-10-21
Authors: Ting Xia; David G Wilder; Maruti R Gudavalli; James W DeVocht; Robert D Vining; Katherine A Pohlman; Gregory N Kawchuk; Cynthia R Long; Christine M Goertz Journal: BMC Complement Altern Med Date: 2014-08-08 Impact factor: 3.659