Is it possible to differentiate people with or without low-back pain on the basis of test of lumbopelvic dysfunction?
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of positive chiropractic test results in relation to low back pain status and to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive (positive and negative) values of these tests.


METHODS
Study subjects were examined by a chiropractor who was unaware of their low back pain status. Information on low back pain was then collected in a self-report questionnaire.


METHODS
Research laboratory at the Odense University Hospital (Denmark).


METHODS
A subset of 166 healthy twins taken from a panel of population-generated twins born between 1953-1982. EXAMINER: Chiropractor with approximately 10 years of clinical experience.


METHODS
The prevalence of a number of lumbopelvic dysfunctional tests (4 observational, 6 pain-on-movement, and 2 pain provocation tests), and a diagnostic conclusion based on these test results were studied in relation to low back pain status.


RESULTS
There was no single test that was clinically acceptable in relation to all 5 aspects of the study. At least one pain-on-movement test was the only variable that had a totally acceptable pattern.


CONCLUSIONS
Although no individual test was accurate, the diagnostic discrimination on the basis of these tests was satisfactory.
Leboeuf-Yde
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Senior Researcher, Nordic Institute for Chiropractic and Clinical Biomechanics, Odense, Denmark.
Kyvik
K O
KO
D000328:Adult; D002684:Chiropractic / Q000379:methods; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000592:standards*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires