An annotated bibliography of spinal motion palpation reliability studies

Area of Science:

• Chiropractic and Manual Therapy
• Musculoskeletal System Examination

Background:

• Previous literature reviews indicate slight interexaminer and moderate intraexaminer reliability for spinal and sacroiliac (SI) motion palpation (MP).
• The reliability of MP is a critical factor in its clinical utility and diagnostic accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and summarize the existing literature on the reliability of spinal and SI motion palpation.
• To identify methodological strengths and weaknesses in studies assessing MP reliability.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across four biomedical databases.
• Study selection involved independent screening and full-text review by two authors.
• Included studies were evaluated for validity using a 6-point scale.

Main Results:

• The review identified and summarized 48 articles specifically addressing the reliability of spinal and SI MP.
• Methodological deficiencies in the analyzed studies were noted and commented upon.
• A significant number of initially retrieved citations were excluded due to not meeting inclusion criteria or methodological limitations.

Conclusions:

• The collective evidence suggests limitations in the reliability of spinal and SI MP.
• Further research with robust methodologies is needed to improve the understanding and application of MP.
• Clinical interpretation of MP findings should consider the documented reliability issues.