title: Use of tape measure in people with or without back pain in assessment of reposition error.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Examining lumbar repositioning error (RE) using a tape measure in nonspecific low back pain (NLBP) and control groups and determining whether RE is different in subjects with nonspecific back pain than in controlled subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was totally applied to 36 subjects of whom 18 were healthy subjects and 18 were NLBP patients. The ability of the subjects to take the targeted positions was assessed. In subjects with NLBP the evaluation of the pain was assessed by using Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and disability measurement was made using Oswestry Disability Index (ODI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  RE was found in all the measurements except for lumbar flexion with eyes open(p=0.15) in control group (p < 0.05). There were RE for all the measurements in NLBP grpup (p < 0.05). When RE of two groups compared only lumbar flexion with eyes open measurement (p = 0.04) in NLBP group was higher then control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As a result of our study, it has been seen that RE measurement of the lumbar spine with tape measure, which is cheap and clinically practical, is a reliable method, and can be used in the assessment of NLBP patients and in the determination of the rehabilitation program.
authors.affiliation: Dokuz Eylul University, School of Physical Therapy, Inciraltı, Izmir, Turkey. bparlak@deu.edu.tr
authors.forename: Bilge
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kara
authors.forename: Arzu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Genc
authors.forename: Yucel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: Nursen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ilcin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000473:pathology*; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D014785:Vision, Ocular