Intra-rater reliability of determining positions of cervical spinous processes and measuring their relative distances

BMC Research Notes

Christoph M. Bauer¹  Markus J. Ernst¹  Bettina B. Sommer¹  André Meichtry¹ 

[1] 0000000122291644, grid.19739.35, Institute of Physiotherapy, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Technikumstrasse 71, 8401, Winterthur, Switzerland;

关键词: Bony landmarks;    Spinous process;    Cervical spine;    Reliability;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13104-019-4299-8

来源: publisher

【 摘 要 】

ObjectivesA reliable detection of bony landmarks of the spine is necessary in order to determine rigid bodies and to reduce the variability of marker placement in a movement laboratory setting. In a first study on the thoracic and lumbar spine, we demonstrated that placing markers on their relative positions between two major landmarks was superior to palpation of specific bony landmarks. The aims of this study were to examine the intra-rater reliability when palpating for spinous processes (SPs) of the second (C2) and seventh cervical vertebrae (C7), to determine the distances between C2 and C7 and the relative position of C7 along the length between C2 and the posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS) level.ResultsThe intra-rater reliability in determining the distance between C2 and C7 was found to be substantial, with an intra-rater reliability of 0.75 (95% confidence limits 0.55–0.99) and a standard error of the measurement of 0.34 cm. The relative distance of C7 along the total C2–PSIS length was estimated to be 11.5%. The determination of the relative positions of spinal landmarks through measurement is considered superior to their palpation, because it relies on a reproducible and comparable definition of rigid bodies.

【 授权许可】

CC BY