Correlation and Reliability Analyses among the Upper Cervical Rotation-Flexion Test, Upper Cervical Flexion-Extension Test, and Upper Cervical Flexion Angle Measurement Using Radiography

KwangSun Do, JaeSung Choi, JaeEun Kim and JongEun Yim
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KwangSun Do: Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School of Sahmyook University, Seoul 01795, Korea
JaeSung Choi: Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School of Sahmyook University, Seoul 01795, Korea
JaeEun Kim: Department of Physical Therapy, Gumi University, Gumi-si 39213, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea
JongEun Yim: Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School of Sahmyook University, Seoul 01795, Korea

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-9

Abstract: (1) Background: The cervical rotation-flexion test is one method of measuring the range of motion of the upper cervical spine; however, this test has not been investigated in detail. The aim of this study was to investigate the reliability and concurrent validity of the upper cervical rotation-flexion test. (2) Methods: Twenty-five healthy individuals (13 women and 12 men) participated in this study. The participants underwent radiography, the upper cervical flexion-extension test, and the upper cervical rotation-flexion test in a sitting position while wearing a cervical goniometer to measure the upper cervical flexion angle. Three experienced physical therapists administered the upper cervical rotation-flexion test using the cervical device, twice for each participant. Inter-rater and intra-rater reliabilities were evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (95% confidence interval). (3) Results: The inter-rater and intra-rater reliability values of the total scores were excellent. The results of the upper cervical rotation-flexion test significantly correlated with those of the radiographic evaluation of the upper cervical flexion angle ( r = 0.80, p < 0.001) and those of the upper cervical flexion-extension test ( r = 0.77, p < 0.001). Significant correlations among the three test results were observed. (4) Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that the upper cervical rotation-flexion test is meaningful for independently measuring the upper cervical flexion angle.

Keywords: upper cervical spine; atlanto-occipital joint; physical examination; range of motion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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