title: The relative value of spinal and thoracic mobility measurements in ankylosing spondylitis.
abstract: The relative value of nine spinal and thoracic mobility measurements was investigated in 73 male patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The value of a test was obtained by the relative ranks of validity, reliability and sensitivity to change. Validity was determined as age-adjusted correlation of the test result with AS-specific radiological changes in the lumbar spine. Reliability was determined as inter-observer error. Sensitivity to change was determined as change in test result during an intensive rehabilitation course. The five most valuable tests were rotation of the thoracolumbar spine (TR), finger-to-floor distance (FFD), the Schober test, thoracolumbar flexion and occiput-to-wall distance. Of these, FFD had high reliability and sensitivity ranks, but poor correlation with AS-specific spinal changes. TR had high validity and sensitivity ranks, and improvement of the measurement technology would probably result in a superior test for the follow-up of AS. Chest expansion and vital capacity had low ranks in all comparisons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Viitanen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kautiainen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suni
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Kokko
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lehtinen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D015588:Observer Variation; D012399:Rotation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013131:Spine / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013909:Thorax / Q000503:physiopathology*