title: Inter- and intra-examiner reliability of single and composites of selected motion palpation and pain provocation tests for sacroiliac joint.
abstract: The sacroiliac joint (SIJ) has been implicated as a potential source of low back and buttock pain. Several types of motion palpation and provocation tests are used to examine the SIJ. It has been suggested that use of a cluster of motion palpation or provocation tests is a more acceptable method than single test to assess SIJ. This study examined the inter- and intra-examiner reliability of single and composites of the motion palpation and provocation tests together. Twenty-five patients between the ages of 20 and 65 years participated. Four motion palpation and three provocation tests were examined three times on both sides (left, right) by two examiners. Kappa coefficient and prevalence-adjusted and bias-adjusted kappa (PABAK) were calculated to evaluate the reliability. PABAK for intra- and inter-examiner reliability of individual tests ranged from 0.36 to 0.84 (95% CI: -0.22 to 1.12) and 0.52 to 0.84 (95% CI: -0.18 to 1.08) which is considered fair to substantial. PABAK for intra- and inter-examiner reliability for clusters of motion palpation or provocation tests ranged from 0.44 to 0.92 (95% CI: -0.36 to 1.2) which is considered moderate to excellent reliability. PABAK for intra- and inter-examiner reliability of composites of motion palpation and provocation tests ranged from 0.44 to 1.00 (95% CI: -0.22 to 1.12) and 0.52 to 0.92 (95% CI: -0.02 to 1.32) which is considered substantial to excellent. It seems that composites of motion palpation and provocation tests together have reliability sufficiently high for use in clinical assessment of the SIJ.
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Evin, Tehran, Iran. arabloo_masoud@hotmail.com
authors: Amir Massoud
authors: AM
authors: Arab
authors: Iraj
authors: I
authors: Abdollahi
authors: Mohammad Taghi
authors: MT
authors: Joghataei
authors: Zahra
authors: Z
authors: Golafshani
authors: Anoshirvan
authors: A
authors: Kazemnejad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D010173:Palpation / Q000379:methods*; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012446:Sacroiliac Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult