Reliability and validity of manual palpation for the assessment of patients with low back pain: a systematic and critical review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Static or motion manual palpation of the low back is commonly used to assess pain location and reproduction in low back pain (LBP) patients. The purpose of this study is to review the reliability and validity of manual palpation used for the assessment of LBP in adults.

Method

We systematically searched five databases from 2000 to 2019. We critically appraised internal validity of studies using QAREL and QUADAS-2 instruments. We stratified results using best-evidence synthesis. Validity studies were classified according to Sackett and Haynes.

Results

We identified 2023 eligible articles, of which 14 were low risk of bias. Evidence suggests that reliability of soft tissue structures palpation is inconsistent, and reliability of bony structures and joint mobi

SUBMITTER: Nolet PS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8390263 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature