Article

This study evaluated the inter-rater reliability of select examination procedures
in patients with neck pain (NP) conducted over a 24- to 48-h period. Twenty-two
patients with mechanical NP participated in a standardized examination. One
examiner performed standardized examination procedures and a second blinded
examiner repeated the procedures 24-48 h later with no treatment administered
between examinations. Inter-rater reliability was calculated with the Cohen Kappa
and weighted Kappa for ordinal data while continuous level data were calculated
using an intraclass correlation coefficient model 2,1 (ICC2,1). Coefficients for
categorical variables ranged from poor to moderate agreement (-0.22 to 0.70
Kappa) and coefficients for continuous data ranged from slight to moderate
(ICC2,1 0.28-0.74). The standard error of measurement for cervical range of
motion ranged from 5.3 degrees to 9.9 degrees while the minimal detectable change
ranged from 12.5 degrees to 23.1 degrees . This study is the first to report
inter-rater reliability values for select components of the cervical examination
in those patients with NP performed 24-48 h after the initial examination. There
was considerably less reliability when compared to previous studies, thus
clinicians should consider how the passage of time may influence variability in
examination findings over a 24- to 48-h period.

Langue : ANGLAIS