The validity of physical therapy assessment of low back pain via telerehabilitation in a Clinical Setting

Background: Back pain is a common and disabling condition for people in rural and remote areas. In these areas, access to rehabilitation services is limited by service availability. Telerehabilitation is suggested as a solution for providing physical therapy services; however, the validity of clinic...

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Main Authors: Truter, P., Russell, T., Fary, Robyn
Format: Journal Article
Published: Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Publishers 2014
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/62250
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author Truter, P.
Russell, T.
Fary, Robyn
author_facet Truter, P.
Russell, T.
Fary, Robyn
author_sort Truter, P.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Background: Back pain is a common and disabling condition for people in rural and remote areas. In these areas, access to rehabilitation services is limited by service availability. Telerehabilitation is suggested as a solution for providing physical therapy services; however, the validity of clinical assessment is largely unproven. The aim of this study was to establish the validity of clinically pragmatic remote assessment of spinal posture, active movements of the lumbar spine, and the passive straight leg raise (SLR) test. Subjects and Methods: Face-to-face physical therapist assessment was compared with telerehabilitation assessment of spinal posture, active movements of the lumbar spine, and the SLR test. Twenty-six participants recruited from a rural population with current or recent low back pain (LBP) were assessed by a face-to-face physical therapist and a remote physical therapist. Pain, disability, and clinical measurements were assessed. Outcomes were compared to establish agreement. Results: High levels of agreement were found with detecting pain with specific lumbar movements, eliciting symptoms, and sensitizing the SLR test. Moderate agreement occurred with identifying the worst lumbar spine movement direction, SLR range of motion, and active lumbar spine range of motion. Poor agreement occurred with postural analysis and identifying reasons for limitations to lumbar movements. Conclusions: Conducted in a rural clinical setting, this study validates elements of the physical assessment of the lumbar spine and identifies technical and clinical issues to be addressed by future research. Important components of the standard musculoskeletal assessment of LBP are valid via telerehabilitation in a clinical setting. © Copyright 2014, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 2014.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-622502018-02-01T05:55:55Z The validity of physical therapy assessment of low back pain via telerehabilitation in a Clinical Setting Truter, P. Russell, T. Fary, Robyn Background: Back pain is a common and disabling condition for people in rural and remote areas. In these areas, access to rehabilitation services is limited by service availability. Telerehabilitation is suggested as a solution for providing physical therapy services; however, the validity of clinical assessment is largely unproven. The aim of this study was to establish the validity of clinically pragmatic remote assessment of spinal posture, active movements of the lumbar spine, and the passive straight leg raise (SLR) test. Subjects and Methods: Face-to-face physical therapist assessment was compared with telerehabilitation assessment of spinal posture, active movements of the lumbar spine, and the SLR test. Twenty-six participants recruited from a rural population with current or recent low back pain (LBP) were assessed by a face-to-face physical therapist and a remote physical therapist. Pain, disability, and clinical measurements were assessed. Outcomes were compared to establish agreement. Results: High levels of agreement were found with detecting pain with specific lumbar movements, eliciting symptoms, and sensitizing the SLR test. Moderate agreement occurred with identifying the worst lumbar spine movement direction, SLR range of motion, and active lumbar spine range of motion. Poor agreement occurred with postural analysis and identifying reasons for limitations to lumbar movements. Conclusions: Conducted in a rural clinical setting, this study validates elements of the physical assessment of the lumbar spine and identifies technical and clinical issues to be addressed by future research. Important components of the standard musculoskeletal assessment of LBP are valid via telerehabilitation in a clinical setting. © Copyright 2014, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 2014. 2014 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/62250 10.1089/tmj.2013.0088 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Publishers restricted
spellingShingle Truter, P.
Russell, T.
Fary, Robyn
The validity of physical therapy assessment of low back pain via telerehabilitation in a Clinical Setting
title The validity of physical therapy assessment of low back pain via telerehabilitation in a Clinical Setting
title_full The validity of physical therapy assessment of low back pain via telerehabilitation in a Clinical Setting
title_fullStr The validity of physical therapy assessment of low back pain via telerehabilitation in a Clinical Setting
title_full_unstemmed The validity of physical therapy assessment of low back pain via telerehabilitation in a Clinical Setting
title_short The validity of physical therapy assessment of low back pain via telerehabilitation in a Clinical Setting
title_sort validity of physical therapy assessment of low back pain via telerehabilitation in a clinical setting
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/62250