Reliability,validity and diagnostic accuracy of palpation of the sciatic,tibial and common peroneal nerves in the examination of low back related leg pain

This study investigated the reliability, validity and diagnostic accuracy of manual palpation of the sciatic, tibial and common peroneal nerves in the examination of 45 subjects with low-back related leg pain. The nerves were palpated manually and with an algometer, to determine pressure pain thresholds (PPTs). A second examiner performed the straight leg raise (SLR) and slump tests to determine nerve trunk mechanosensitivity. The procedure was repeated by another examiner to determine inter-rater reliability (n = 20). Kappa scores for agreement between raters for manual palpation were 0.80, 0.70 and 0.79 for the sciatic, tibial and common peroneal nerves respectively, demonstrating excellent reliability. PPTs were significantly lower on the symptomatic side, for each of the three nerves, in subjects who were positive on manual palpation. In subjects who were negative on manual palpation, PPTs were not significantly different between sides, demonstrating criterion-based validity, using PPT as the criterion. Highest scores of diagnostic accuracy were obtained when two or more of the three nerves were positive on palpation (sensitivity = 0.83; specificity = 0.73).     

Intrarater and Interrater Reliability of Select Clinical Tests in Patients Referred for Diagnostic Facet Joint Blocks in the Cervical Spine

Objective

To measure the intra- and interrater reliability of select standardized clinical tests used for the assessment of patients with axial neck pain referred for diagnostic facet joint blocks.

Design

Single-group, repeated-measures study.

Setting

Tertiary interventional pain management center.

Participants

Consecutive patients with persistent neck pain, referred to a tertiary interventional pain management center, were approached to participate. Fifty-six patients consented to participate in the study.

Interventions

Subjects underwent a standardized clinical testing protocol, performed by 2 physiotherapists, before receiving diagnostic facet joint blocks. Subjects were examined twice by 1 assessor for the determination of the intrarater reliability of the testing protocol, and again by a second assessor for determination of interrater reliability.

Main Outcome Measures

Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), kappa coefficients, and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to determine the intra- and interrater reliability for cervical range of motion (ROM; 6 directions), extension-rotation (ER) test, manual spinal examination (MSE), and palpation for paraspinal tenderness (PST) from C2 through C7.

Results

For intrarater reliability, kappa coefficients ranged from .51 to .88 for the ER test, MSE, and PST, and ICCs ranged from .91 to .97 for ROM. For interrater reliability, kappa coefficients ranged from .74 to .96 for the ER test, MSE, and PST, and ICCs ranged from .90 to .95 for ROM.

Conclusions

The standardized clinical tests exhibited moderate to substantial reliability in patients with axial neck pain referred for diagnostic facet joint blocks. The data justify the incorporation of these tests into a clinical prediction model to screen patients before referral for diagnostic facet blocks.     

Reliability and Responsiveness of the Activities of Daily Living Computerized Adaptive Testing System in Patients With Stroke

Objective

To examine the intrarater reliability, interrater reliability, and responsiveness of the Activities of Daily Living Computerized Adaptive Testing system (ADL CAT) in patients with stroke.

Design

One repeated-measures design (at an interval of 7d) was used to examine the intrarater reliability and interrater reliability of the ADL CAT. For the responsiveness study, participants were assessed with the ADL CAT at admission to the rehabilitation ward and at discharge from the hospital.

Setting

Eight rehabilitation units.

Participants

Three different (nonoverlapping) groups of patients (N=157) were recruited. Fifty-five and 42 outpatients with chronic stroke participated in the intrarater and interrater reliability studies, respectively; 60 inpatients who had recently had a stroke participated in the responsiveness study.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measure

ADL CAT.

Results

The intraclass correlation coefficient values were .94 and .80 for the ADL CAT in the intrarater reliability and interrater reliability studies, respectively. The classical test theory–based minimal detectable change values were 6.5 and 9.5 for the ADL CAT in the intrarater reliability and interrater reliability studies, respectively. The Kazis' effect size and standardized response mean of the ADL CAT were moderate (.62–.73).

Conclusions

The ADL CAT has good intrarater reliability and interrater reliability in outpatients with chronic stroke, and sufficient responsiveness in inpatients with stroke undergoing inpatient rehabilitation. Further investigations on the responsiveness of the ADL CAT in outpatients are needed to obtain more evidence on the utility of the ADL CAT.     

Dexmedetomidine Added to Local Anesthetic Mixture of Lidocaine and Ropivacaine Enhances Onset and Prolongs Duration of a Popliteal Approach to Sciatic Nerve Blockade

Purpose

A literature review of multiple clinical studies on mixing additives to improve pharmacologic limitation of local anesthetics during peripheral nerve blockade revealed inconsistency in success rates and various adverse effects. Animal research on dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant on the other hand has promising results, with evidence of minimum unwanted results. This randomized, double-blinded, contrastable observational study examined the efficacy of adding dexmedetomidine to a mixture of lidocaine plus ropivacaine during popliteal sciatic nerve blockade (PSNB).

Intra- and Interrater Reliability of the Modified Tardieu Scale for the Assessment of Lower Limb Spasticity in Adults With Neurologic Injuries

Objective

To examine the intra- and interrater reliability of the Modified Tardieu Scale (MTS) for lower limb assessment of adults with chronic neurologic injuries.

Design

Single-center intra- and interrater reliability study.

Setting

Outpatient neurorehabilitation unit.

Participants

Adults (N=30; mean age ± SD, 54.1±12.5y) with various chronic neurologic injuries and lower limb spasticity.

Interventions

Two experienced physiotherapists performed slow (R2) and fast (R1) passive movements for lower limb muscles half an hour apart on the same day (interrater reliability), while a third physiotherapist took goniometric measurements only. One physiotherapist repeated the assessment 1 to 3 days earlier or later (intrarater reliability). Assessors qualitatively rated the resistance to fast passive movements.

Main Outcome Measures

Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and limits of agreement (LOA) were calculated for R1, R2, and R2–R1. Kappa coefficients were calculated for tibialis range of movement and qualitative spasticity ratings.

Results

Intra- and interrater R1 and R2 measurements showed moderate to high reliability for the affected hamstrings, rectus femoris, gastrocnemius, soleus (mean ICC ± SD, .79±.08), and tibialis anterior (mean κ ± SD, .58±.10). Only intrarater measurements of the affected tibialis posterior were moderately reliable (R1=.57, R2=.77). Seven of 16 spasticity angle measurements of the affected muscles were moderately reliable. LOA were mostly unacceptably wide. Qualitative spasticity ratings were moderately reliable for affected hamstrings, gastrocnemius, and tibialis muscles (mean κ ± SD, .52±.10).

Conclusions

The MTS is reliable for assessing spasticity in most lower limb muscles of adults with chronic neurologic injuries. Repeated MTS measurements of spasticity are best based on R1 measurements rather than spasticity angle or qualitative ratings of spasticity. Optimally, MTS measurements should be undertaken by the same clinician.     

In situ transverse elasticity and blood perfusion change of sciatic nerves in normal and diabetic rats

Background

Diabetic neuropathy is the most pervasive complication of diabetes mellitus and its etiopathology is not completely elucidated. The existing literature focuses on the histological and structural changes as well as the longitudinal mechanical properties of nerves. The main objective of this study is to investigate the in situ transverse biomechanical properties and changes of microcirculation of sciatic nerves in diabetic and normal control rats.

Methods

Quasi-static circular compression experiments were conducted on sciatic nerves of six normal and six diabetic Wistar rats. Local blood perfusion during the compression was also measured by laser Doppler flowmetry. The compressive stress and strain were estimated, in order to calculate the apparent Young’s modulus. The impact of diabetes on peripheral nerves was examined by analyzing the transverse elasticity and microcirculation changes.

Findings

The mean transverse apparent Young’s modulus of the sciatic nerves in diabetic rats was 210.7 kPa, which was nearly two times greater than that of normal controls (116.3 kPa). The pressure threshold that blood perfusion started to decrease in diabetic rats (24.1 mm Hg) was smaller than in the normal controls (47.1 mm Hg).

Interpretation

These results suggest that the sciatic nerve was stiffer in the diabetic rats. The structural changes in microvessels might lead to earlier decrease of blood perfusion in diabetic nerves under radial compression. These results provide information about the biomechanical and microcirculation changes of peripheral nerves inflicted by diabetes and may also serve as a reference for clinical nerve repair and regeneration for patients with diabetic neuropathy.     

Quantitative in vivo longitudinal nerve excursion and strain in response to joint movement: A systematic literature review

Background

Neural system mobilization is widely used in the treatment of several painful conditions. Data on nerve biomechanics is crucial to inform the design of mobilization exercises. Therefore, the aim of this review is to characterize normal nervous system biomechanics in terms of excursion and strain.

Methods

Studies were sought from Pubmed, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Scielo. Two reviewers' screened titles and abstracts, assessed full reports for potentially eligible studies, extracted information on studies' characteristics and assessed its methodological quality.

Findings

Twelve studies were included in this review that assessed the median nerve (n = 8), the ulnar nerve (n = 1), the tibial nerve (n = 1), the sciatic nerve (n = 1) and both the tibial and the sciatic nerves (n = 1). All included studies assessed longitudinal nerve excursion and one assessed nerve strain. Absolute values varied between 0.1 mm and 12.5 mm for median nerve excursion, between 0.1 mm and 4.0 mm for ulnar nerve excursion, between 0.7 mm and 5.2 mm for tibial nerve excursion and between 0.1 mm and 3.5 mm for sciatic nerve excursion. Maximum reported median nerve strain was 2.0%.

Interpretation

Range of motion for the moving joint, distance from the moving joint to the site of the lesion, position of adjacent joints, number of moving joints and whether joint movement stretches or shortens the nerve bed need to be considered when designing neural mobilization exercises as all of these factors seem to have an impact on nerve excursion.     

Reliability of the performance and safety scores of the wheelchair skills test version 4.1 for manual wheelchair users

Lindquist NJ, Loudon PE, Magis TF, Rispin JE, Kirby RL, Manns PJ. Reliability of the performance and safety scores of the Wheelchair Skills Test Version 4.1 for manual wheelchair users.

Objective

To evaluate the interrater, intrarater, and test-retest reliability of the total performance and safety scores of the Wheelchair Skills Test version 4.1 (WST 4.1) for manual wheelchairs operated by adult wheelchair users.

Design

Cohort study.

Setting

University research setting.

Participants

People (N=11) who used manual wheelchairs for community locomotion.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measure

Participants were videotaped as they completed the WST 4.1 (30 skills) on 2 separate occasions 1 to 2 weeks apart. Subsequently, raters scored the WST 4.1 from the video recordings and each participant received a total score for performance and safety. Using those scores, interrater, intrarater, and test-retest reliability were determined by using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Percentages of agreement between raters for individual skills also were calculated.

Results

Mean ± SD overall WST 4.1 scores for performance and safety were 80.1%±8.5% and 98.0%±2.8%. ICCs for the interrater, intrarater, and test-retest reliability of the performance component were .855, .950, and .901 (P<.001). Safety component ICC scores were .061 (P=.243), .228 (P=.048), and .254 (P=.041). Percentages of agreement between raters for each test item for both the performance and safety scales ranged from 68% to 100%.

Conclusions

Reliability of the performance component of the WST 4.1 was excellent, whereas ICCs for the safety component indicated only slight to fair agreement, probably because of the low variability in safety scores. Additional study is needed to further evaluate the reliability of the safety component with a larger and more diverse sample group.     

Reliability of the Tardieu Scale for Assessing Spasticity in Children With Cerebral Palsy

Gracies J-M, Burke K, Clegg NJ, Browne R, Rushing C, Fehlings D, Matthews D, Tilton A, Delgado MR. Reliability of the Tardieu Scale for assessing spasticity in children with cerebral palsy.

Objective

To measure the Tardieu Scale's reliability in children with cerebral palsy (CP) when used by raters with and without experience in using the scale, before and after training.

Design

Single-center, intrarater and interrater reliability study.

Setting

Institutional ambulatory care.

Participants

Referred children with CP in the pretraining phase (n=5), during training (n=3), and in the posttraining phase (n=15).

Interventions

The Tardieu Scale involves performing passive muscle stretch at 2 velocities, slow and fast. The rater derives 2 parameters; the Spasticity Angle X is the difference between the angles of arrest at slow speed and of catch-and-release or clonus at fast speed; the Spasticity Grade Y is an ordinal variable that grades the intensity (gain) of the muscle reaction to fast stretch. In phase 1, experienced raters without formalized training in the scale graded elbow, knee, and ankle plantar flexors bilaterally, without and with a goniometer. In phase 2, after training, the experienced and nonexperienced raters graded the same muscles unilaterally.

Main Outcome Measures

Intrarater and interrater reliability of the Tardieu Scale.

Results

After training, nonexperienced raters had mean ± SD intrarater and interrater agreement rates across all joints and parameters of 80%±14% and 74%±16%, respectively. For experienced raters, intrarater and interrater agreement rates before training were 77%±13% and 66%±15%, respectively, versus 90%±8% and 81%±13%, respectively, after training (P<.001 for both). Specific angle measurements at the knee were less reliable for the angles of catch measured at fast speed. Across all joints, agreement rates were similar using visual or goniometric measurements.

Conclusions

Both parameters of the Tardieu Scale have excellent intrarater and interrater reliability when assessed at the elbow and ankle joints of children with CP, with no difference noted between visual and goniometric measurements. Angle measurements were less reliable at the knee joints. Training was associated with a highly significant improvement in reliability.     

Validity and Reliability of the CAM-ICU Flowsheet to diagnose delirium in surgical ICU patients

Purpose

Delirium occurs frequently in critical care but often remains undiagnosed because delirium monitoring is often dismissed as being too time-consuming. This study determined the validity and reliability of the “CAM-ICU Flowsheet,” a practical, time-sparing algorithm to assess the 4 delirium criteria in intubated patients.

Materials and Methods

With permission from our institution's ethics committee, patients of a 31-bed surgical intensive care unit department were screened for delirium (1) by a psychiatrist as the reference rater using the 4 delirium criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Diseases, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), and (2) by 2 physician investigators using a German translation of the CAM-ICU Flowsheet.

Results

Fifty-four surgical ICU patients underwent the complete protocol assessment with paired observations; 46% were diagnosed with delirium by the reference rater (n = 25), 9% had hyperactive delirium (n = 5), and 37% were hypoactive (n = 20). The CAM-ICU Flowsheet investigators had sensitivities of 88% (95% confidence interval, 69%-98%) and 92% (74%-99%), specificities of 100% (85%-100%), very high interrater reliability (κ, 0.96; 0.87-1.00), and needed 50 seconds (interquartile range, 40-120 seconds) in patients with delirium vs 45 seconds (interquartile range, 40–75 seconds) in those without delirium to complete assessments.

Conclusions

The CAM-ICU Flowsheet has high sensitivity, high specificity, and very high interrater reliability. False-negative ratings can occur infrequently and mostly reflect the fluctuating course of delirium. The CAM-ICU Flowsheet is a valid, reliable, and quickly performed bedside delirium instrument.     

Interrater and Intrarater Reliability of the Balance Computerized Adaptive Test in Patients With Stroke

Objective

To examine the interrater and intrarater reliability of the Balance Computerized Adaptive Test (Balance CAT) in patients with chronic stroke having a wide range of balance functions.

Intra- and interrater reliability and agreement of the Danish version of the Dynamic Gait Index in older people with balance impairments

Jønsson LR, Kristensen MT, Tibaek S, Andersen CW, Juhl C. Intra- and interrater reliability and agreement of the Danish version of the Dynamic Gait Index in older people with balance impairments.

Objectives

To examine the intrarater and interrater reliability and agreement of the Danish version of the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) in hospitalized and community-dwelling older people with balance impairments.

Design

Reliability study.

Setting

University hospital and outpatient rehabilitation.

Participants

A convenience sample of older people (≥65y); 24 subjects from a hospital and 24 from an outpatient rehabilitation center. All subjects had either 1 or more falls within the last year or balance impairments evaluated by a physical therapist.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

All subjects carried out the DGI twice with a 1.5-hour interval. Each subject was rated by 3 physical therapists in the first attempt (1 for intrarater and 2 for interrater comparison) and by the intrarater in the second attempt, in both settings. The reliability was calculated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC, 2.1), while agreement was calculated as the smallest real difference (SRD).

Results

The ICC for intrarater and interrater reliability of the total DGI was .90 and .92 at the hospital, while the SRD was 2.72 and 2.58 points, respectively. Correspondingly, the ICC for intrarater and interrater reliability of the total DGI at the rehabilitation center was .89 and .82, while the SRD was 3.49 and 3.99 points, respectively.

Conclusions

The intrarater and interrater reliability of the total DGI ranged from good to excellent in hospitalized and community-dwelling older people. Improvements of 3 and 4 DGI points for hospitalized and community-dwelling older people, respectively, should be regarded as a real change (with a 95% certainty).     

The pattern of tibial nerve excursion with active ankle dorsiflexion is different in older people with diabetes mellitus

Background

The peripheral nervous system has an inherent capability to tolerate the gliding (excursion), stretching (increased strain), and compression associated with limb motions necessary for functional activities. The biomechanical properties during joint movements are well studied but the influence of other factors such as limb pre-positioning, age and the effects of diabetes mellitus are not well established for the lower extremity. The purposes of this pilot study were to compare the impact of two different hip positions on lower extremity nerve biomechanics during an active ankle dorsiflexion motion in healthy individuals and to determine whether nerve biomechanics are altered in older individuals with diabetes mellitus.

Methods

Ultrasound imaging was used to quantify longitudinal motion of the tibial nerve and transverse plane motion of the tibial and common fibular nerves in the popliteal fossa during active ankle movements.

Findings

In healthy individuals, ankle dorsiflexion created mean tibial nerve movement of 2.18 mm distally, 1.36 mm medially and 3.98 mm superficially. When the hip was in a flexed position there was a mean three-fold reduction in distal movement. In people with diabetes mellitus there was significantly less distal movement of the tibial nerve in the neutral hip position and less superficial movement of the nerve in both hip positions compared to healthy individuals.

Interpretation

We have documented reductions in tibial nerve excursion due to limb pre-positioning thought to pre-load the nervous system using a non-invasive methodology. Thus, lower limb pre-positioning impacts nerve biomechanics during ankle motions common in functional activities. Additionally, our findings indicate that nerve biomechanics have the potential to be altered in older individuals with diabetes mellitus compared to younger healthy individuals.     

The Reliability of an Instrumented Device for Measuring Components of the Star Excursion Balance Test

Background

The Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) is a dynamic test that requires strength, flexibility, and proprioception and has been used to assess physical performance, identify chronic ankle instability, and identify athletes at greater risk for lower extremity injury. In order to improve the repeatability in measuring components of the SEBT, the Y Balance Test™ has been developed.

Objective

The purpose of this paper is to report the development and reliability of the Y Balance Test™.

Methods

Single limb stance excursion distances were measured using the Y Balance Test™ on a sample of 15 male collegiate soccer players. Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) were used to determine the reliability of the test.

Results

The ICC for intrarater reliability ranged from 0.85 to 0.91 and for interrater reliability ranged from 0.99 to 1.00. Composite reach score reliability was 0.91 for intrarater and 0.99 for interrater reliability.

Discussion

This study demonstrated that the Y Balance Test™ has good to excellent intrarater and interrater reliability. The device and protocol attempted to address the common sources of error and method variation in the SEBT including whether touch down is allowed with the reach foot, where the stance foot is aligned, movement allowed of the stance foot, instantaneous measurement of furthest reach distance, standard reach height from the ground, standard testing order, and well defined pass/fail criteria.

Conclusion

The Y Balance Test™ is a reliable test for measuring single limb stance excursion distances while performing dynamic balance testing in collegiate soccer players.     

Influence of post-cam design of posterior stabilized knee prosthesis on tibiofemoral motion during high knee flexion

Backgrounds

The post-cam design of contemporary posterior stabilized knee prosthesis can be categorized into flat-on-flat or curve-on-curve contact surfaces. The curve-on-curve design has been demonstrated its advantage of reducing stress concentration when the knee sustained an anteroposterior force with tibial rotation. How the post-cam design affects knee kinematics is still unknown, particularly, to compare the difference between the two design features. Analyzing knee kinematics of posterior stabilized knee prosthesis with various post-cam designs should provide certain instructions to the modification of prosthesis design.

Methods

A dynamic knee model was utilized to investigate tibiofemoral motion of various post-cam designs during high knee flexion. Two posterior stabilized knee models were constructed with flat-on-flat and curve-on-curve contact surfaces of post-cam. Dynamic data of axial tibial rotation and femoral translation were measured from full-extension to 135°.

Findings

Internal tibial rotation increased with knee flexion in both designs. Before post-cam engagement, the magnitude of internal tibial rotation was close in the two designs. However, tibial rotation angle decreased beyond femoral cam engaged with tibial post. The rate of reduction of tibial rotation was relatively lower in the curve-on-curve design. From post-cam engagement to extreme flexion, the curve-on-curve design had greater internal tibial rotation.

Interpretation

Motion constraint was generated by medial impingement of femoral cam on tibial post. It would interfere with the axial motion of the femur relative to the tibia, resulting in decrease of internal tibial rotation. Elimination of rotational constraint should be necessary for achieving better tibial rotation during high knee flexion.     

Polyethylene damage and deformation on fixed-bearing,non-conforming unicondylar knee replacements corresponding to progressive changes in alignment and fixation

Background

Deviations from nominal alignment of unicondylar knee replacements impact knee biomechanics, including the load and stress distribution at the articular contact surfaces. This study characterizes relationships between the biomechanical environment, distinguished by progressive changes in alignment and fixation, and articular damage and deformation in a consecutive series of retrieved unicondylar knee replacements.

Methods

Twenty seven fixed-bearing, non-conforming unicondylar knee replacements of one design were retrieved after 2 to 13 years of in vivo function. The in vivo biomechanical environment was characterized by grading component migration measured from full-length radiographs and grading component fixation based on intraoperative manual palpation. Articular damage patterns and linear deformation on the polyethylene inserts were measured using optical photogrammetry and contact point digitization.

Findings

Articular damage patterns and surface deformation on the explanted polyethylene inserts corresponded to progressive changes in component alignment and fixation. Component migration produced higher deformation rates, whereas loosening contributed to larger damage areas but lower deformation rates. Migration and loosening of the femoral component, but not the tibial component, were factors contributing to large regions of abrasion concentrated on the articular periphery.

Interpretation

Classifying component migration and fixation at revision proved useful for distinguishing common biomechanical conditions associated with the varied polyethylene damage patterns and linear deformation for this fixed-bearing, non-conforming design. Pre-clinical evaluations of unicondylar knee replacements that are capable of reproducing variations in clinical alignment and predicting the observed wear mechanisms are necessary to better understand the impact of knee biomechanics and design on unicondylar knee replacement longevity.     

Emergency Department Triage: Do Experienced Nurses Agree on Triage Scores?

Background

The reproducibility of the Canadian Triage &; Acuity Scale (CTAS), designed and introduced in the late 1990s in all Canadian emergency departments (EDs), has been studied mostly using measures of interrater agreement. However, each of these studies shares a common limitation: the nurses had received fresh CTAS training, which is likely to have led to an overestimation of the reproducibility of CTAS.

Objectives

This study aims to assess the interrater reliability of the CTAS in current clinical practice, that is, as used by experienced ED nurses without recent certification or recertification.

Methods

A prospective sample of 100 patients arriving by ambulance was identified and yielded a set of 100 written scenarios. Five experienced ED nurses reviewed and blindly assigned a CTAS score to each scenario. The agreement among nurses was measured using the Kappa statistic calculated with quadratic weights. Kappa values were generated for each pair of nurses and a global Kappa coefficient was calculated to measure overall agreement.

Results

Overall interrater agreement was moderate, with a global Kappa of 0.44 (95% confidence interval 0.40–0.48). However, pairwise, Kappa values were heterogeneous (0.30 to 0.61, p = 0.0013).

Conclusions

The moderate interrater agreement observed in this study is disappointingly low and suggests that CTAS reliability may be lower than expected, and this warrants further research. Intra-observer reliability of CTAS should be ascertained more extensively among experienced nurses, and a future evaluation should involve several institutions.     

A systematic, critical review of manual palpation for identifying myofascial trigger points: evidence and clinical significance

Myburgh C, Larsen AH, Hartvigsen J. A systematic, critical review of manual palpation for identifying myofascial trigger points: evidence and clinical significance.

Objective

To determine the reproducibility of manual palpation in identifying trigger points based on a systematic review of available literature.

Data Sources

Medline (1965-2007), CINHAL (1982-2007), ISI Web of Science (1945-2007), and MANTIS (1966-2007) databases and reference lists of articles.

Study Selection

Reproducibility studies relating to identification and diagnosis of trigger points through palpation. Acceptable studies were required to specifically consider either inter- or intrarater reliability of trigger point identification through manual palpation and include κ statistics as part of their statistical assessment.

Data Extraction

Three independent reviewers considered the studies for inclusion and rated their methodologic quality based on the Standards for Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy guidelines for the reporting of diagnostic studies.

Data Synthesis

Eleven studies were initially included; however, 5 were subsequently excluded based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Only 2 studies were judged to be of high quality, and the level of evidence criteria suggested that, at best, moderate evidence could be found from which to make pronouncements on the literature. Only local tenderness of the trapezius (κ range, .15-.62) and pain referral of the gluteus medius (κ range, .298-.487) and quadratus lumborum (κ range, .36-.501) were found to be reproducible.

Conclusions

The methodologic quality of the majority of studies for the purpose of establishing trigger point reproducibility is generally poor. More high-quality studies are needed to comment on this procedure. Clinicians and scientists are urged to move toward simpler, global assessments of patient status.