Table 6 Spinal focus of the study, Reference standard used, Primary outcome, Statistics, and Author's conclusion.
From: Content validity of manual spinal palpatory exams - A systematic review
Author (Year) | Spinal Focus | Reference Standard | Primary Outcome | Statistics | Author's Conclusion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Harvey D (1991) | Lumbar spine | Mechanical Model | Detect presence or absence of lumbar spine intersegmental motion restriction | Sensitivity Intern: 53.8%; Practitioner: 47.8%; Specificity Intern: 85.5%; Practitioner: 88% (PPV Pract. 42.3%, Interns 43.7%; NPV Pract. 90.3%, Interns 89.8%; +LR Pract. 4.05, Interns 3.7; -LR Pract. 0.592; Interns 0.54) | Intersegmental motion restriction palpation is more specific than sensitive |
Moruzzi S (1993) | Lumbar spine | Mechanical Model | Detect accuracy of two types of spinal motion palpation procedures in correctly determining fixation | Sensitivity Lateral Flexion: 41.2%; PA springing: 42.8%; Specificity LF: 61.5%; PAS: 62.2% (PPV Post-Ant 28.6%; Lat. Flex. 30.6%; NPV Post-Ant 73.7%, Lat. Flex. 73.7%) | The palpation procedures as performed were not valid tests. |
Jensen K (1993) | Lumbar spine | Mechanical Model | Detect presence or absence of single and multiple intersegmental motion restrictions | Sensitivity Interns: 72%; Practitioners: 52.6%; Specificity Interns: 83.2%; Practitioners 78.6% (PPV Interns 46.2%; Pract. 45.5%; NPV Interns 93.7%; Pract 83%) | Motion palpation is an accurate method for determining non-fixated segments but not accurate for determining fixated segments. |
Sandmark H (1995) | Cervical spine | Pain reported by subjects | Assess presence or absence of pain upon palpation of facet joint | Sensitivity 82%; Specificity 79%; Positive Predictive Value = 62%; NPV = 91% | Palpation over the facet joint had better sensitivity and specificity than motion tests in study. |
Kristiansson P (1996) | Lumbar spine | Visual Analog Scale | Assess the relationship between clinical back status and reported pain locations during and after pregnancy. | Thoracic DP Tenderness: Sensitivity 17.8%, Specificity 98.5%, Positive Predictive Value 72.2%, Negative Predictive Value 84.44%;; Lumbar DP Tenderness: Sens. 21.2%, Spec. 96.19%, PPV 61.76%, NPV 80.83%;;; Lumbar Percussion: Sens 5.1%, Spec. 100%, PPV 100%, NPV 78.44%. | Pain provocation tests were better at discriminating LBP than tests of configuration or mobility |