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Test-retest reliability of the Progressive Isoinertial Lifting Evaluation (PILE)
Hildegunn Lygren1, Tove Dragesund, Jón Joensen
1Department of Physical Therapy, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. hildegunn.lygren@helse-bergen.no
Study Design:
A repeated measures single group design.
Objectives:
To investigate test-retest reliability of Progressive Isoinertial Lifting Evaluation on patients with long lasting musculoskeletal problems related to the lumbar spine.
Summary Of Background Data:
Test-retest reliability has been satisfactory in healthy men. Test-retest reliability for clinical populations has not been reported.
Methods:
A total of 31 patients (17 women and 14 men) with long lasting low back pain participated in the study. The patients were tested twice at an interval of 2 days and at the same time of the day. The heaviest load that the patient could lift 4 times was used as outcome measure.
Results:
The error of measurement indicates that the true result in 95% of cases will be within +/-4.5 kg from the measured value, while the difference between 2 measurements in 95% of cases will be less than 6.4 kg. Intra-class correlation (1,1) was 0.91.
Conclusions:
Relative test-retest reliability was high assessed by intra-class correlation, but absolute measurement variability reported as the smallest detectable difference has relevance for the interpretation of clinical test results and should also be considered.
