title: Intra-examiner and inter-examiner reproducibility of paraspinal thermography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the intra-examiner and inter-examiner reproducibility of paraspinal thermography using an infrared scanner.
  
  
  METHODS
  The thermal functions of a commercially available infrared scanner (Insight Subluxation Station®) were evaluated for clinical reliability. Two practicing clinicians conducted the measures on 100 subjects. Intra class correlation coefficients (ICCs) and concordance correlation coefficients (CCCs) were calculated from the collected data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean bilateral paraspinal skin temperature was 89.78° F and ranged from 88.77° F to 91.43° F. Intra class correlation coefficients (ICCs) for agreement and consistency ranged from 0.959 to 0.976. Concordance correlation coefficients (CCCs) ranged from 0.783 to 0.859 with tight confidence intervals indicating robust estimates of these quantities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study revealed excellent intra-examiner and inter-examiner reproducibility of paraspinal thermography using a commercially available unit.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Sciences, Life University College of Chiropractic, Marietta, Georgia, United States of America. matthewmccoy@comcast.net
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McCoy
authors.forename: Ismay
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: Curtis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fedorchuk
authors.forename: Sameera
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wijayawardana
authors.forename: Kirk
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Easley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007259:Infrared Rays; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D013131:Spine; D013817:Thermography / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult