Test-retest reliability of the Progressive Isoinertial Lifting Evaluation (PILE).
METHODS
A repeated measures single group design.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate test-retest reliability of Progressive Isoinertial Lifting Evaluation on patients with long lasting musculoskeletal problems related to the lumbar spine.


BACKGROUND
Test-retest reliability has been satisfactory in healthy men. Test-retest reliability for clinical populations has not been reported.


METHODS
A total of 31 patients (17 women and 14 men) with long lasting low back pain participated in the study. The patients were tested twice at an interval of 2 days and at the same time of the day. The heaviest load that the patient could lift 4 times was used as outcome measure.


RESULTS
The error of measurement indicates that the true result in 95% of cases will be within +/-4.5 kg from the measured value, while the difference between 2 measurements in 95% of cases will be less than 6.4 kg. Intra-class correlation (1,1) was 0.91.


CONCLUSIONS
Relative test-retest reliability was high assessed by intra-class correlation, but absolute measurement variability reported as the smallest detectable difference has relevance for the interpretation of clinical test results and should also be considered.
Lygren
Hildegunn
H
Department of Physical Therapy, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. hildegunn.lygren@helse-bergen.no
Dragesund
Tove
T
Joensen
Jón
J
Ask
Tove
T
Moe-Nilssen
Rolf
R
D000328:Adult; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017770:Lifting; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results