J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2002 Sep; 25(7): E7.

The kinematics of motion palpation and its effect on the reliability for cervical spine rotation.

Marcotte J, Normand MC, Black P.

BACKGROUND: The reliability of a test depends on its standardization. Instrumental measurement of the reproducibility of the test is an effective way to evaluate the level of standardization obtained. Improved standardization is believed to yield greater reliability. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to measure the technical ability of an examiner to reproduce the kinematics of motion palpation for cervical spine rotation and to evaluate the effect of standardization on the reliability of the test. DESIGN: A study of reproducibility of the kinematics of the test for cervical spine rotation was conducted by means of a computerized system of analysis of movement. The reliability when reproducibility was achieved was compared with reliability when it failed. RESULTS: The data collected enable us to establish a standardized protocol for the execution of the test. The standardized palpation is executed within 6 of inclination from the pure plane of rotation. The successful reproduction of the kinematics of the test raises its reliability to detect the presence of fixations (kappa raising from 0.337 and 0.352 to 0.682). CONCLUSIONS: A greater reliability, arising from a high level of reproducibility, enables us to document the advantages of the standardization of motion palpation in chiropractic.