TY - JOUR
T1 - The reliability and validity of the Biering-Sorensen test in asymptomatic subjects and subjects reporting current or previous nonspecific low back pain
AU - Latimer, Jane
AU - Maher, Christopher G.
AU - Refshauge, Kathryn
AU - Colaco, Ian
PY - 1999/10/15
Y1 - 1999/10/15
N2 - Study Design. A reliability study and case-control study were conducted. Objectives. To determine the reliability and discriminative validity of the Biering-Sorensen test. Summary of Background Data. A low Biering-Sorensen score has been found to predict who will have nonspecific low back pain. However, the reliability of the test remains controversial, implying that some studies may have produced results that underestimated the magnitude of the predictive validity of this test. Methods. Two raters measured the time holding a specific position (holding time) of 63 subjects (23 currently experiencing nonspecific low back pain, 20 who had had an episode, and 20 who were asymptomatic) while they performed the Biering-Sorensen test twice, 15 minutes apart. A standardized protocol was followed. Test-retest reliability was evaluated by calculating intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC 1,1), 95% confidence intervals (CI), and standard errors of the measurement (SEM) for the total group and for the subgroups. A three-way analysis of variance was used to determine whether test order, subject gender, or symptom status affected holding time. Results. High reliability indices were obtained for the Biering-Sorensen test in subjects with current nonspecific low back pain (ICC [1,1], 0.88; 95% CI, 0.73-0.95; SEM, 11.6 seconds), in subjects who had had nonspecific low back pain (ICC [1,1], 0.77; 95% CI, 0.52-0.90; SEM, 17.5 seconds), and in asymptomatic subjects (ICC [1,1], 0.83; 95% CI, 0.62-0.93; SEM, 17.4 seconds). Results of an analysis of variance showed that subjects asymptomatic for low back pain had a significantly longer holding time than the other two groups (P < 0.05). Conclusions. The Biering-Sorensen test provides reliable measures of position-holding time and can discriminate between subjects with and without nonspecific low back pain.
AB - Study Design. A reliability study and case-control study were conducted. Objectives. To determine the reliability and discriminative validity of the Biering-Sorensen test. Summary of Background Data. A low Biering-Sorensen score has been found to predict who will have nonspecific low back pain. However, the reliability of the test remains controversial, implying that some studies may have produced results that underestimated the magnitude of the predictive validity of this test. Methods. Two raters measured the time holding a specific position (holding time) of 63 subjects (23 currently experiencing nonspecific low back pain, 20 who had had an episode, and 20 who were asymptomatic) while they performed the Biering-Sorensen test twice, 15 minutes apart. A standardized protocol was followed. Test-retest reliability was evaluated by calculating intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC 1,1), 95% confidence intervals (CI), and standard errors of the measurement (SEM) for the total group and for the subgroups. A three-way analysis of variance was used to determine whether test order, subject gender, or symptom status affected holding time. Results. High reliability indices were obtained for the Biering-Sorensen test in subjects with current nonspecific low back pain (ICC [1,1], 0.88; 95% CI, 0.73-0.95; SEM, 11.6 seconds), in subjects who had had nonspecific low back pain (ICC [1,1], 0.77; 95% CI, 0.52-0.90; SEM, 17.5 seconds), and in asymptomatic subjects (ICC [1,1], 0.83; 95% CI, 0.62-0.93; SEM, 17.4 seconds). Results of an analysis of variance showed that subjects asymptomatic for low back pain had a significantly longer holding time than the other two groups (P < 0.05). Conclusions. The Biering-Sorensen test provides reliable measures of position-holding time and can discriminate between subjects with and without nonspecific low back pain.
KW - backache
KW - low back pain
KW - prognostic factors
KW - spine
KW - tests and measures
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0033570010&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/00007632-199910150-00004
DO - 10.1097/00007632-199910150-00004
M3 - Article
C2 - 10543003
AN - SCOPUS:0033570010
SN - 0362-2436
VL - 24
SP - 2085
EP - 2090
JO - Spine
JF - Spine
IS - 20
ER -