title: Intratester and intertester reliability of the movement system impairment-based classification for patients with knee pain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The methods to standardize the test items used for classification of patients with knee pain based on the movement system impairment (MSI) approach have been established. To our knowledge, no study has concentrated on establishing reliability for proposed classification for knee pain problems.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to assess intra- and intertester reliability of the knee MSI classification in patients with knee pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional methodological study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rasul Akram Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-six subjects with knee pain aged 18-65 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  In order to examine intertester reliability, all three testers assessed the symptoms, signs and the MSI diagnosis of subjects with knee pain simultaneously. In order to assess intratester reliability, the procedure was exactly repeated after a one-week intersession period. Kappa values and percentages of agreement were calculated to analyze the reliability level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The kappa values for intra- and intertester reliability of the symptom items ranged from 0.83 to 1.00 and 0.00 to 0.83, respectively. For the sign items, the kappa values ranged from 0.18 to 1.00 and 0.00 to 0.82, respectively. Finally, the kappa values of intra- and intertester reliability for patients' classification judgments ranged from 0.66 to 0.71, and 0.48 to 0.58, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study indicate that intertester reliability for the symptoms, signs and classification judgments of patients with knee pain based on the MSI approach seemed generally acceptable. However, for intratester reliability, lower levels of the system were observed, probably due to different pain levels or pain behavior between test and retest sessions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehrnaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kajbafvala
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: dr_i_ebrahimi@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ebrahimi-Takamjani
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahyar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salavati
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistical Research and Information Technology, Institute for Research and Planning in Higher Education, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saeedi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Pourahmadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Faculty, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Zinat
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ashnagar
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Jafar
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Shaterzadeh-Yazdi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amiri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019937:Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D015588:Observer Variation; D010146:Pain / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000592:standards*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Classification; Impairment; Knee; Reliability