Reliability of a clinical test for deep cervical flexor endurance.
OBJECTIVE
Endurance deficiencies of the deep cervical flexors are associated with pain, increased lordosis, and headache. A need exists for reliable clinical tests of flexor endurance. This study determined intrarater and interrater reliability of such a test in persons without neck pain.


METHODS
Twenty-seven subjects (aged 20-35 years) without a history of neck pain or injury were tested. Supine subjects were timed in maintaining a position involving two components: (1) craniovertebral flexion (chin tuck) and (2) lower cervical flexion (holding the occiput at a fixed height). Each subject was examined twice by 3 different examiners with 1 to 2 days between trials.


RESULTS
When two values were averaged, interrater reliability for the 3 testers was 0.83, 0.85, and 0.88. Intrarater reliability values were 0.78 and 0.85 for tests 1 and 2, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The flexor endurance test showed good intertester and intratester reliability when two values were averaged and, thus, may represent a useful clinical tool for practitioners involved in treating and preventing neck pain.
Olson
Lee E
LE
Department of Physical Therapy, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Mich 49104-0420, USA. lolson@andrews.edu
Millar
A Lynn
AL
Dunker
Jeremy
J
Hicks
Jennifer
J
Glanz
Devin
D
D000328:Adult; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D015588:Observer Variation; D010807:Physical Endurance; D011187:Posture; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016683:Supine Position