Preliminary studies with a mechanical model for the evaluation of spinal motion palpation

This study was designed to investigate the ability of eight graduate chiropractors and 19 final year chiropractic students to detect the presence or absence of lumbar spine intersegmental motion restriction by palpating a spinal model equipped with artificial fixators. There was little difference between the two groups of palpators with regard to the successful identification of the presence or absence of fixation. Typically, 43 per cent of reported fixations were correctly identified in contrast to the 16 per cent expected by chance alone. Similarly, 13 per cent of levels which were actually free were identified as fixed compared with the expected 19 per cent.