•  
  •  
 

PRELIMINARY STUDY: INTRA-RATER RELIABILITY OF BIERING-SORENSON TEST WHEN USING GONIOMETER

Abstract

The Biering-Sorenson test has been used in the field of athletics and rehabilitation for decades. The test measures back extensor endurance and can be used to predict the risk for low back pain. The reliability of the test was found to be variable (low-high reliability) in previous studies. Several studies suggested that the reliability of the test can be improved by using instruments that can help the rater to determine the end of the test. PURPOSE: To investigate the reliability of Biering-Sorenson test when a goniometer is used to determine the end of the test. METHODS: 5 healthy subjects were recruited. Subjects completed three sessions of the Biering-Sorenson test. The first session was used as a practice session, the two subsequent sessions were used for data collection. Exclusion criteria included recent low back pain or injuries to lower extremities. The Biering-Sorenson test was performed using a goniometer fixed to a tripod with additional bubble level attachment placed one foot from the treatment table. The axis of the goniometer was at the level of the iliac crest, the stationary arm was parallel to ground, and the movable arm was fixed at 170 degrees mark. Stopwatch was used to record the time. The test ended when the upper trunk dropped below 10 degrees horizontal as measured by the goniometer. One rater (PT student) determined the end of the test. Using the Biering-Sorenson test results from the 2nd and 3rd sessions, Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) estimate and its 95% confidence interval were calculated using SPSS statistical software. RESULTS: There were 6-9 days between the data collection sessions. All participants were young (age= 23.4±1.5) and 80% of participants were females. Participants had moderate-high activity level (80% moderate and 20% high) and healthy weight (BMI=23.4 ± 2.6). The reliability estimate was found to be high; ICC= 0.94 (lower bound=0.57, upper bound=0.99). CONCLUSION: The results indicate high intra-rater reliability of Biering-Sorenson test when a goniometer is used to determine the end of the test in healthy individuals. However, the sample size of the study is small, and the findings cannot be generalized to people with pathological conditions.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS