An upper body musculoskeletal assessment instrument for patients with work-related musculoskeletal disorders: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the reliability and validity of a new outcome measure, the Upper Body Musculoskeletal Assessment (UBMA).


METHODS
Twenty subjects physician-diagnosed as having work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMD) and ten healthy subjects were assessed using the UBMA on three separate occasions. All subjects with WRMD attributed their injury to equipment use on their job.


RESULTS
The WRMD group had significantly higher UBMA scores on the side of equipment use than on the other side (p <0.01), whereas the healthy group had similar scores on both sides (p> 0.05). UBMA scores for the WRMD group were significantly greater on both sides of the body than scores for the healthy group (p<0.01). Only one test occasion was required to produce excellent reliability coefficients (ICCs>0.88). Although group reliability was excellent, changes of 24% for patients with WRMD and 44% for healthy subjects would be required for confidence that UBMA scores for individual patients on the side of equipment use had changed from baseline.


CONCLUSIONS
Although testing on one occasion produced reliable UBMA scores, healthy subjects could be distinguished from patients with WRMD, and the side of equipment use could be distinguished from the other side in patients with WRMD, prediction of individual UBMA scores was poor. In its present form, the UBMA is useful for making decisions about groups but not about individual patients. Modifications of the current UBMA are required to reduce measurement error.
Kramer
J F
JF
School of Physical Therapy, Elborn College, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada. jkramer@julian.uwo.ca
Potter
P
P
Harburn
K L
KL
Speechley
M
M
Rollman
G B
GB
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D009784:Occupational Diseases; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results