International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine, 2013/09, 16(3):143-152. doi: 10.1016/j.ijosm.2012.10.004, type of study: ,irs,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Full text    (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1746068912000788)

Keywords:

pressure pain threshold [27]
algometry [11]
algometer [1]
data correlation [2]
reliability [164]

Abstract:

Background To determine if electronic pressure algometry is a statistically stable measure of spinal pressure pain threshold (PPT) in asymptomatic individuals, in particular, to determine if repeated measurements at the same site changes the PPT, and to determine if repeatability differs in each of the spinal regions tested. Design Repeated measures design. Setting: University teaching clinic. Participants Thirty-three asymptomatic participants. Interventions The PPT of three spinal segments (C6, T6 and L4) was measured three times in consecutive measures (10 s apart), then repeated one day and two days post-initial measurement. Measurements were taken using an electronic pressure algometer. Main outcome measures PPT, intra-class correlation coefficient and test of significant equality. Results Results demonstrated that the PPT measurement is statistically stable both between days (p < 0.001) and within day (p < 0.001). The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) values between the mean scores of daily trials demonstrated excellent concordance for each spinal segment (ICC = 0.860–0.953), with the exception of the correlation between day 1 and day 3 at T6, demonstrating good concordance (ICC = 0.676). All trial-to-trial correlations demonstrated excellent concordance both within trials of the same day (ICC = 0.833–0.988) and subsequent days (ICC = 0.823–0.940). Conclusion Electronic pressure algometry is a repeatable and statistically stable measure of the spinal PPT, both between days and within-day. The results provide evidence that the use of this device may be of value as an outcome measure for primary spinal complaints such as low back or thoracic spine pain.