Incidence of foot rotation, pelvic crest unleveling, and supine leg length alignment asymmetry and their relationship to self-reported back pain.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence of pelvic unleveling, foot rotation, and supine leg length alignment asymmetry in a nonclinical population and to examine the validity (sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values) of these visual tests and their relationship to self-reported back pain.


METHODS
Volunteers answered a questionnaire regarding back pain and were then examined by a chiropractor who was unaware of the status of their back pain.


METHODS
Seventy-four unscreened volunteers answered the questionnaire.


METHODS
The association of visual tests with back pain and their validity indices; Visual Analogue Scale ratings.


RESULTS
Fifty-one percent (n = 74) of volunteers examined had supine leg length alignment asymmetry (LLA). Pain intensity on a Visual Analogue Scale was significantly higher (P <.001) for those demonstrating supine LLA than for those without LLA. Those with back pain and recurrent back pain were significantly (P <.001) more likely to have supine LLA. The validity indices of the supine leg check showed acceptable levels for sensitivity (74%), specificity (78%), and positive predictive value (82%) [corrected] in recurrent back pain. Findings also indicated a high incidence of supine LLA in volunteers with chronic back pain (85%).


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicated that, in this group of volunteers, the supine leg length alignment check had clinical validity as a stand-alone test for recurring back pain. Further testing on a larger, statistically defined cross-section of the population is recommended.
Knutson
Gary A
GA
gaknutson@aol.com
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002684:Chiropractic; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007870:Leg Length Inequality / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D010388:Pelvis / Q000503:physiopathology; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D012399:Rotation / Q000009:adverse effects; D016353:Self-Examination; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires