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The objectives of this study were to estimate the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of the Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) and Conditioned Pain Modulation (CPM) in healthy participants and patients with chronic shoulder pain. Additionally, the Standard Error of Measurement (SEM) and Smallest Detectable Change (SDC) were calculated. Thirty-one healthy volunteers and twenty patients with chronic shoulder pain were assessed using the PPT and CPM by two raters, with a 24 h interval between sessions. Excellent intra-rater reliability was demonstrated for PPT, with similar SEM and SDC when assessed by the same rater. The inter-rater reliability for PPTs in patients was moderate to good (ICC = 0.59–0.89) with higher SEM (73.83–121.98 kPa) and SDC (61.58–97.59) values than the asymptomatic group (ICC = 0.92–0.96, SEM = 49.61–103.12 kPa, SDC = 42.01–56.30) respectively. CPM's intra-rater reliability was good (ICC = 0.82) in the patients and moderate (ICC = 0.67) in the asymptomatic group, while inter-rater reliability was low for the asymptomatic group (ICC = 0.37) and extremely low (ICC = 0.074) for the patients, with comparable SEM and SDC outcomes in both groups. PPT and CPM measurements are highly reliable when conducted by the same rater on the same day. Patients had lower inter-rater PPT reliability but better intra-rater CPM reliability. Clinicians need to be mindful of potential variability when interpreting these test results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of the study was to examine of the intra-rater reliability of the chin tuck neck flexion (CTNF) test for assessing the endurance of neck flexors. Materials and methods: The study was performed at the Cardiorespiratory laboratory of the Physiotherapy Department, School of Health and Caring Professions, TEI Lamia, Greece. Twenty healthy volunteers (males/females: 9/11, age: 22.2 ± 1.7 y ears) with no known musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, or psychiatric disorder were recruited. The participants were positioned in a supine position and were asked to raise their head 2.5 cm above the plinth and to maintain this position for as long as possible without losing craniocervical or cervical flexion. This test was repeated three times with 5-min intervals between the trials. Results: The results showed that this test could discriminate between neck flexor endurance in men and women. However, although the test seems to be highly reliable (ICC: 0.81-0.88), it presents unsatisfactory standard error of measurement (SEM: 10.7-14.7 s) and smallest detectable differences (SDD: 80.5-110.9%). Furthermore, subgroup analysis showed the test seems to be more reliable for women (ICC: 0.93-0.94) than for men (ICC: 0.68-0.8), but the SEM and SDD values for them remain unsatisfactory (SEM: 4.4-5.3 s, SDD: 57.5-63.99%). Conclusions: Due to high reproducibility and discriminant validity, clinicians and researchers might want to consider using the CTNF test for the assessment of neck flexor endurance. However, they should seek alternative measurement tools when they want to avoid a large measurement error. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Respiratory muscle strength is an important part of lung function. Assessment of the respiratory muscles' ability to generate force is important for recognizing respiratory muscle weakness in both sick and healthy people. OBJECTIVE: To assess the test/retest reliability of the MicroRPM portable manometer's measurements of maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) in the sitting and standing positions; the number of expiratory maneuvers needed with the MicroRPM for reliability in MIP and MEP measurement; and the MicroRPM's test/retest reliability in other respiratory function indices, such as the maximum rate of pressure development (MRPD), the time constant of relaxation (tau), and the maximum relaxation rate (MRR). METHODS: We recruited 15 healthy volunteers (mean age 21.6 ± 1.1 years). We assessed respiratory muscle strength on 3 separate occasions, each a week apart. We calculated reliability with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), the standard error of measurement (SEM) and the smallest detectable difference (SDD). RESULTS: MicroRPM reliably measured MIP and MEP in both the sitting position (ICC 0.86-0.90, SEM 9-10, SDD 18-22) and standing position (ICC 0.78-0.83, SEM 12-14, SDD 23-26). After a 5-breath practice, 2 expiratory/inspiratory maneuvers on each testing occasion gave adequate MIP and MEP reliability (ICC > 0.90). MRR reliability was moderate to excellent (ICC 0.58-0.87), MRPD reliability was moderate (ICC 0.59-0.64), and tau reliability was insufficient (ICC 0.27- 0.67). CONCLUSIONS: The MicroRPM reliably measures MIP and MEP, but its MRPD, MRR, and tau measurements should be considered with caution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objectives: To evaluate the intra- and inter-examiner reliability of neck active joint position sense measurements in different head movements. Methods: Participants had to reproduce actively a specific angle-target in all movements (flexion, right/left rotation, right/left side flexion) from two initial positions, sitting and standing by using a 3D ultrasound-based motion analysis device. Three tests were employed to assess intra-examiner reliability and two examiners used for the inter-examiner reliability. Absolute error (AE) and variable error (VE) indices were used to assess the repositioning accuracy. Intraclass correlation coefficient (I.C.C.(1,1)), standard error of measurement (S.E.M.), smallest detectable difference (S.D.D.) indices were calculated for the analysis of the results. Results: Both AE and VE yielded poor to moderate I.C.C.s in any movement and position (−0.01 to 0.50 and 0.01–0.25, respectively). AE presented higher I.C.C.s estimates than the VE but the S.D.D.s were similar for both indices. Regarding the AE, the standing position yielded higher I.C.C. estimates (0.15–0.68) than the sitting position (−0.01 to 0.43) but the S.E.M. (1.2–3.0° and 1.5–3.5°, respectively) and S.D.D. values (123.3–191.8% and 139.9–203.8%, respectively) showed no specific trend in favour of any position. The VE reliability indices showed that standing position was more reliable with less error than sitting. The inter-examiner data showed similar results to the intra-examiner study. Conclusions: The statistical analysis of the present experiments showed that the method employed for measuring cervical joint position sense is unreliable. However, it needs further research to identify the discriminatory power of these tests or if they are clinically unacceptable. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Introduction: The repeatability of subjective and objective assessments of neck muscle fatigue is very important with regard to the clinical applicability of these methods. Method: To establish between-days reliability, 33 healthy volunteers performed a 60% maximum voluntary isometric contraction test from a standing position in all neck movements. Cervical muscle fatigue was assessed on three separate occasions from the spectral (median frequency, MF) and amplitude (root mean square, RMS) analysis of the electromyogram (EMG) signal recorded from the cervical paraspinal group, splenius capitis, levator scapulae and sternocleidomastoid. Subjective assessment of fatigue was rated by employing the Borg scale. Intraclass correlation coefficient ICC(1,1), standard error of measurement (SEM), smallest detectable difference (SDD) indices and Pearson’s correlation co-efficient were calculated for the analysis of the results. Results: Normalised median frequency (MF) slope had low repeatability and large between-day error (ICC(1,1) =0.28–0.61; SEM=0.33–0.60%/s; SDD=132.7–703.2%) for the protagonist muscles of each movement. Initial median frequency (IMF) had moderate to good reliability and small error (ICC(1,1) =0.64–0.81; SEM=2.8–8.8Hz; SDD=19.9–38.5%). The RMS slope yielded also poor repeatability. The Borg assessment was more reliable than the EMG estimate though variability between sessions was still quite high (SDD=29.2–136.5%). No correlation was found between the EMG and Borg assessment of neck muscle fatigue (r =−0.01–0.39). Conclusion: The protocol used for assessing neck muscle fatigue proved to be reliable only for the IMF but the clinical usefulness of this measure remains questionable. The lack of correlation between objective and subjective estimation of neck muscle fatigue was possibly a consequence of the poor measurement repeatability. Further research is needed to identify the factors responsible for these results on neck area. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The purpose of this study was to translate and investigate the validity and reliability of the modified Baecke Physical Activity Questionnaire (mBQ) in the Greek adult population. This is a cross-cultural study. The cross-cultural adaptation of the mBQ was performed according to official guidelines. The prefinal Greek translation was tested in 30 healthy participants. The reliability was determined (n = 100) by filling out the mBQ, two times, 1 week apart. For validation (n = 45), the scores between the mBQ and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) were compared, and the correlation between mBQ and VO 2 max and between mBQ and interview (METS) were assessed. High statistical significant of test–retest reliability was found (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.84; standard error of measurement = 0.48; smallest detectable difference = 16.7%; Cronbach's alpha = 0.92). Statistical significant correlation between the mBQ and the IPAQ (r = 0.425, P = 0.005), high correlation between the mBQ and METS (r = 0.691, P = 0.000), and moderate correlation between mBQ and VO 2 max (r = 0.388, P = 0.08) were found. The Greek mBQ was found to be reliable and valid for assessing the level of physical activity in the Greek population. NCT04890756. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]