Inter- and intra-examiner reliability of palpation for sacroiliac joint dysfunction

The purpose of this study was to operationally define and evaluate inter- and intra-examiner reliability of the standing sacroiliac mobility (Gillet) test on 53 college students. Both inter- and intra-examiner reliability data showed high mean percentages of agreement (85.3% and 89.2%, respectively.) Cohen's unweighted kappa statistic for concordance was applied yielding "fair" concordance for aggregate intra-examiner data and "slight" concordance for aggregate inter-examiner data. The intra-examiner reliability data suggests that the Gillet test is clinically useful for a single examiner in assessing the sacroiliac joint for mobility dysfunction, especially at upper sacroiliac contact points. Linear regression analyses suggest that the test is sensitive, in that reliability improves with increasing perceived abnormality. Further revisions to the operational definition may improve both inter- and intra-examiner reliability of the Gillet test.