Affiliations: [a] Mobility Impairment Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Mazandaran, Iran | [b] Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran | [c] Department of Physiotherapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Tehran, Iran | [d] Orthopedic Department, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran | [e] Department of Radiology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran | [f] Department of Physiotherapy, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, USA
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Mohammad Taghipour-Darzi, Mobility Impairment Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Mazandaran, Post cod: 47176-47745, Iran. Tel.: +98 111 32190515; Fax: +98 111 32199936; E-mail:taghipourm@yahoo.com
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Lumbar Segmental Instability (LSI) is a subgroup of
nonspecific Low Back Pain (NSLBP) without any accepted diagnostic tool as a
gold standard. Some authors emphasize on quality measure such as centre of
rotation (COR) but construct validity of this measure had not been approved.
Therefore the purpose of the present study was to evaluate Concurrent and
Convergent validity of COR in differentiating LSI. METHODS: A total of 66 volunteered males participated in three
groups named control, NSLBP and LSI groups based on clinical examination.
Patients were diagnosed as LSI according to screening criteria adopted by
Hicks et al. Study variables included CORs of lumbar segments in sagittal
plane. Three x-rays were taken in neutral, flexion and extension positions.
The variables were calculated using CARA software. The ANOVA and Tukey test
were utilized in statistic analysis. RESULTS: ANOVA results demonstrated mean differences between three
groups for COR of L4 motion segment in y axis (p= 0/008) and L5 motion
segment in y axis (p= 0/005) were significant. Tukey test showed significant
difference for COR of L4 motion segment in y axis between LSI and healthy
groups (p= 0/038) and between LSI and NSLBP groups (p= 0/009). For COR of L5
motion segment in y axis, tukey test demonstrated mean difference between
LSI and healthy groups (p= 0/028) and between LSI and NSLBP groups (p= 0/007)
were significant. Tukey test did't show any significant difference
between NSLBP and healthy groups for COR of L4 (p= 0/852) and L5 (p= 0/871)
motion segments in y-axis. CONCLUSIONS: The COR has ability to differentiate patients with
signs and symptoms of LSI from other NSLBP and healthy subjects based on the
present study results. However, more researches are needed to develop and
support results of this study.
