The interrater reliability of static palpation of the thoracic spine for eliciting tenderness and stiffness to test for a manipulable lesion

摘要: Despite widespread use by manual therapists, there is little evidence regarding the reliability of thoracic spine static palpation to test for a manipulable lesion using stiffness or tenderness as diagnostic markers. We aimed determine interrater agreement segmental and effect standardised training examiners. The secondary aim was explore expert consensus on level required locate “manipulable lesion”. Two experienced chiropractors used vertebrae two occasions (pragmatic approaches). Participants rated an 11-point numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) raters judged based their experience perception normal mobility with requested outcomes hypomobile mobility. calculated percent agreement, Cohen’s Kappa coefficients (κ) prevalence-adjusted bias-adjusted (PABAK). In preliminary study, panel 10 took part in Delphi process identify meaningful Thirty-six participants (20 female) were enrolled study 13th March 2017. Mean (SD) age 22.4 (3.4) years equal distribution asymptomatic (n = 17) symptomatic participants. Overall, spinal had values indicating less than chance [κ range − 0.11, 0.53]. When adjusted prevalence bias, PABAK ranged from slight substantial [0.12–0.76] moderate demonstrated at majority levels (T1, T2 T6 T12). Generally, fair [Kappa range 0.22–0.77]. Training did not significantly improve tenderness. indicated that NPRS score 2 out identified potential Static overall moderately reliable identification tenderness, demonstrating higher reliability. Also, increased found within mid-thoracic spine. A brief intervention failed