Reliability of Clinical Measurements of Forward Bending Using the Modified Fingertip-to-Floor Method

Gauvin, Michael G; Riddle, Daniel L.; Rothstein, Jules M

doi:10.1093/ptj/70.7.443

Cited by 127 publications

(77 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Within our study, we did not find any statistically significant correlation between the modified Schober test and MRI findings. Clinical studies have found the reliability of the FTFD ranging from low [31] to high [4,15,19,39]. In our study, the relationship between structural changes of the lumbar spine and the FTFD was only weakly correlated to endplate changes on level L4-5.…”

Section: Mobility Testsmentioning

confidence: 49%

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Do MRI findings correlate with mobility tests? An explorative analysis of the test validity with regard to structure

Quack

Schenk²,

Laeubli³

et al. 2006

Eur Spine J

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To find out whether segmental magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings such as intervertebral disc degeneration (DD) and facet joint osteoarthritis (FJO) are associated with motion deficiencies as seen in common mobility tests and observed range of motion (ROM). A total of 112 female subjects, nurses and office workers, with and without low back pain, were examined by clinical experts, and lumbar mobility was measured including modified Schober, fingertip-to-floor distance (FTFD) and ZEBRIS motion analysis. An MRI of the lumbar spine was made. Mobility findings were correlated with segmental morphologic changes as seen on MRI at the levels of L1-2 through L5-S1. Only a few statistically significant correlations between MRI findings and the results of the mobility tests could be found. Lateral bending was weakly and negatively correlated to DD and FJO but only on the level of L5-S1. The FTFD showed a weak positive correlation to endplate changes on the level of L4-5. When ROM is observed by clinical experts, there are several significant relationships between MRI findings and the observed motion. There is a highly significant segmental correlation between DD and disc form alteration as seen on MRI on the level of single motion segments. Pain history and current pain level did not moderate any association between MRI and mobility. There is no clear relationship between the structural changes represented by MRI and the measured mobility tests used in this study. Our findings suggest that close observation of spinal motion may provide at least equal information about the influence of spinal structures on motion than the commonly used measured mobility tests do.

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Section: Mobility Testsmentioning

confidence: 49%

“…The modified Schober and the FTFD were described previously [4,15,19,27,31,39]. For the LB, the participants were told to slowly bend from the upright position to the side with their hand running down a vertical ruler.…”

Section: Testing Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do MRI findings correlate with mobility tests? An explorative analysis of the test validity with regard to structure

Quack

Schenk²,

Laeubli³

et al. 2006

Eur Spine J

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…They were instructed to reach as far as possible with their fingertips toward the floor, with knees fully extended. 19 The results were measured in centimeters (negative values reflecting an inability to reach the stool and positive values reflecting the ability to reach beyond the level of the stool).…”

Section: Clinical Field Testsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Measuring Health-Related Physical Fitness in Physiotherapy Practice: Reliability, Validity, and Feasibility of Clinical Field Tests and a Patient-Reported Measure

Tveter¹,

Dagfinrud²,

Moseng³

et al. 2014

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther

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“…For example, noninvasive methods comprise the inclinometer technique, 1,2 Schober technique, 3 modified Schober technique, 4 fingertip to floor method, 5,6 or skin-mounted optical or electromagnetic measuring devices. 7,8 Nevertheless, it has been shown that external measurement may not reflect the true intervertebral movement, and limitations have already been reported when measuring single segmental movement.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Lumbar Spine Motion With Dynamic X-ray–A Reliability Analysis

Cakir

Richter

Käfer

et al. 2006

Spine

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Study Design. Radiologic evaluation of lumbar range of motion (ROM) with dynamic radiograph.Objectives. To calculate 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the measurement error accompanying different methods, different observers, and different levels of training when measuring sagittal plane segmental ROM in lumbar spine. In addition, to compare the 95% CI with frequently common statistical methods of reliability analysis.Summary of Background Data. Dynamic radiographs are commonly used for ROM calculation of the lumbar spine. Yet, the reliability of different measurement methods still remains unclear.Methods. In 24 patients, levels L4 -L5 and L5-S1 were measured with the Cobb and superimposition methods on flexion-extension radiographs. There were 2 experienced and 1 inexperienced observer that performed the measurements. The 95% CIs were compared with the corresponding Pearson correlation coefficient and P value (t test).Results. The 95% CI of the superimposition method was Ϯ4.0°for the experienced and Ϯ4.7°for the inexperienced observer. The corresponding values for the Cobb method was Ϯ4.2°for the experienced and Ϯ6.8°for the inexperienced observer. The 95% CI for the measurement error became even worse when different methods or observers were compared, whereas a method constancy revealed superior reliability than observer constancy in experienced observers.Conclusions. For lumbar ROM measurement with dynamic radiograph, the superimposition method seems to be more reliable than the Cobb method. Study protocols dealing with ROM measurement have to calculate the 95% CI of the measurement method used because clinically valid conclusions can only be drawn with respect to these intervals.

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Reliability of Clinical Measurements of Forward Bending Using the Modified Fingertip-to-Floor Method

Cited by 127 publications

References 6 publications

Do MRI findings correlate with mobility tests? An explorative analysis of the test validity with regard to structure

Do MRI findings correlate with mobility tests? An explorative analysis of the test validity with regard to structure

Measuring Health-Related Physical Fitness in Physiotherapy Practice: Reliability, Validity, and Feasibility of Clinical Field Tests and a Patient-Reported Measure

Evaluation of Lumbar Spine Motion With Dynamic X-ray–A Reliability Analysis

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