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Validity of the fingertip-to-floor test and straight leg raising test in patients with acute and subacute low back pain: a comparison by sex and radicular pain.

Ekedahl, Harald LU ; Jönsson, Bo LU and Frobell, Richard LU (2010) In Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 91(8). p.1243-1247
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To use self-reported disability (Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire [RMDQ]) to assess the criterion validity of straight leg raising (SLR) test and flexion range of motion (ROM) (fingertip-to-floor test) before and after stratification by sex and presence/absence of radicular pain. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Outpatient physical therapy clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects with acute/subacute low back pain with (n=40) and without (n=35) radicular pain. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We examined the relationship between RMDQ (reference variable) and SLR test and fingertip-to-floor test. The sample was stratified by presence/absence of radicular pain (categorized by the dichotomous slump test).... (More)
OBJECTIVE: To use self-reported disability (Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire [RMDQ]) to assess the criterion validity of straight leg raising (SLR) test and flexion range of motion (ROM) (fingertip-to-floor test) before and after stratification by sex and presence/absence of radicular pain. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Outpatient physical therapy clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects with acute/subacute low back pain with (n=40) and without (n=35) radicular pain. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We examined the relationship between RMDQ (reference variable) and SLR test and fingertip-to-floor test. The sample was stratified by presence/absence of radicular pain (categorized by the dichotomous slump test). RESULTS: In the entire sample, fair correlations were found between both physical impairment tests (ie, SLR test and flexion ROM) and self-reported disability (.27<r>.44). After stratification by sex, the correlation between RMDQ and flexion ROM and between RMDQ and nonside-specific SLR test increased in women but decreased in men. In those with radicular pain, good correlations were found between RMDQ and flexion ROM (r=.68 for men and r=.70 for women), and moderate correlation was found between the RMDQ and SLR tests of the affected side in women (r=.60), but only fair correlation was found between the RMDQ and SLR tests of the affected side in men (r=.28). CONCLUSIONS: After stratification by sex and presence/absence of radicular pain, the present study supports a good validity of the fingertip-to-floor test for both men and women with radicular pain. The SLR test, however, was of less value as an indicator of self-reported disability after stratification, especially for men. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Radiculopathy: physiopathology, Low Back Pain: diagnosis, Radiculopathy: complications, Low Back Pain: complications
in
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
volume
91
issue
8
pages
1243 - 1247
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000281178900012
  • pmid:20684905
  • scopus:77955616922
  • pmid:20684905
ISSN
0003-9993
DOI
10.1016/j.apmr.2010.05.002
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b7df5000-4e25-4271-a996-7bece8a4ccca (old id 1665602)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20684905?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 08:00:37
date last changed
2022-04-15 19:47:09
@article{b7df5000-4e25-4271-a996-7bece8a4ccca,
  abstract     = {{OBJECTIVE: To use self-reported disability (Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire [RMDQ]) to assess the criterion validity of straight leg raising (SLR) test and flexion range of motion (ROM) (fingertip-to-floor test) before and after stratification by sex and presence/absence of radicular pain. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Outpatient physical therapy clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects with acute/subacute low back pain with (n=40) and without (n=35) radicular pain. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We examined the relationship between RMDQ (reference variable) and SLR test and fingertip-to-floor test. The sample was stratified by presence/absence of radicular pain (categorized by the dichotomous slump test). RESULTS: In the entire sample, fair correlations were found between both physical impairment tests (ie, SLR test and flexion ROM) and self-reported disability (.27&lt;r&gt;.44). After stratification by sex, the correlation between RMDQ and flexion ROM and between RMDQ and nonside-specific SLR test increased in women but decreased in men. In those with radicular pain, good correlations were found between RMDQ and flexion ROM (r=.68 for men and r=.70 for women), and moderate correlation was found between the RMDQ and SLR tests of the affected side in women (r=.60), but only fair correlation was found between the RMDQ and SLR tests of the affected side in men (r=.28). CONCLUSIONS: After stratification by sex and presence/absence of radicular pain, the present study supports a good validity of the fingertip-to-floor test for both men and women with radicular pain. The SLR test, however, was of less value as an indicator of self-reported disability after stratification, especially for men.}},
  author       = {{Ekedahl, Harald and Jönsson, Bo and Frobell, Richard}},
  issn         = {{0003-9993}},
  keywords     = {{Radiculopathy: physiopathology; Low Back Pain: diagnosis; Radiculopathy: complications; Low Back Pain: complications}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{8}},
  pages        = {{1243--1247}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation}},
  title        = {{Validity of the fingertip-to-floor test and straight leg raising test in patients with acute and subacute low back pain: a comparison by sex and radicular pain.}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/5162627/1710487.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.apmr.2010.05.002}},
  volume       = {{91}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}