title: A novel objective evaluation method for trunk function.
abstract: [Purpose] To investigate whether an objective evaluation method for trunk function, namely the "trunk righting test", is reproducible and reliable by testing on different observers (from experienced to beginners) and by confirming the test-retest reliability. [Subjects] Five healthy subjects were evaluated in this correlation study. [Methods] A handheld dynamometer was used in the assessments. The motor task was a trunk righting motion by moving the part with the sensor pad 10 cm outward from the original position. During measurement, the posture was held at maximum effort for 5 s. Measurement was repeated three times. Interexaminer reproducibility was examined in two physical therapists with 1 year experience and one physical therapist with 7 years of experience. The measured values were evaluated for reliability by using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC 1.1) and interclass correlation coefficients (ICC 2.1). [Results] The test-retest reliability ICC 1.1 and ICC 2.1 were all high. The ICC 1.1 was >0.90. The ICC 2.1 was 0.93. [Conclusion] We developed the trunk righting test as a novel objective evaluation method for trunk function. As the study included inexperienced therapists, the results suggest that the trunk righting test could be used in the clinic, independent of the experience of the therapists.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Shijonawate Gakuen University, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Rehabilitation, Osaka Kawasaki Rehabilitation University, Japan.
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kobe Kaisei Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazunari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Center, Kobe Kaisei Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoneda
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Center, Kobe Kaisei Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuta
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Naka
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Center, Kobe Kaisei Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kitanishi
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Center, Kobe Kaisei Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirotaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oyagi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kobe Kaisei Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hoshino
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kobe Kaisei Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Nao
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shibanuma
keywords: Handheld dynamometer; Reliability; Trunk function