Anarte-Lazo E, Rodriguez-Blanco C, Falla D, Bernal-Utrera C. Physical testing in patients with acute whiplash-associated disorders: A within session test-retest reliability study.
Musculoskelet Sci Pract 2023;
64:102738. [PMID:
36870148 DOI:
10.1016/j.msksp.2023.102738]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
People with whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) commonly present with a variety of physical impairments. However, the reliability of physical tests has not been established for patients with acute WAD.
OBJECTIVE
To assess test-retest reliability of different physical tests in acute WAD.
DESIGN
Intra-rater test-retest reliability.
METHODS
Patients with acute WAD were recruited. Physical tests were used to evaluate articular, muscular and neural systems in two blocks of measurements separated by 10 min. Bland-Altman plots were performed to assess intrarater agreement, which included calculation of the mean difference (d) between rates, the 95% CI for d, the standard deviation of the differences and the 95% limits of agreement. Reliability was calculated via the standard error of measurement, the minimal detectable change, percent of agreement, the intraclass-correlation coefficient, and kappa coefficient.
RESULTS
47 patients participated. Test-retest reliability was excellent or good for almost all measures, except for extension ROM, ULTT for the radial nerve, and active cervical extension and upper cervical rotation performed in 4-point kneeling, which presented moderate reliability. Systematic bias was found in cervical ROM in flexion, left and right lateral-flexion, left and right rotation; left ULTT for radial nerve; right trapezius, suboccipitalis and temporalis muscles, left temporalis; C3, both sides of C1-C2, left C3-C4.
CONCLUSION
The majority of physical tests achieved good or excellent test-retest intra-rater reliability when tested in patients with acute WAD. Findings must be considered with caution for those tests which demonstrated systematic bias. Additional research is warranted to evaluate inter-rater reliability.
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