Physical therapists commonly examine the postural alignment and curvature of the low back region in patients with low back pain, presumably because of an assumed relationship between postural alignment and dysfunction. As an adjunct to visual observation, clinicians may also use a special device to obtain noninvasive measurements of the curvature. Many different devices have been used, but a largely unanswered question is whether the measurements obtained with the various devices can be used interchangeably. Based on the literature, the 2 types of devices that appear to be used most commonly are inclinometers and flexible rulers. This technical note concludes that regardless of the device used – inclinometer or Metrecom, a microcomputer-interfaced, electromechanical, three-dimensional (3D) digitizer, the results for tangent method measurements were similar. Trigonometric method measurements taken with the Metrecom were larger than tangent method measurements obtained with either the inclinometer or Metrecom. The difference between actual and predicted depth of the curve was a large and significant predictor of the difference between tangent and trigonometric measurements. The use of the trigonometric method with a computer-interfaced digitizer, such as the Metrecom, may be preferable compared to the use of an inclinometer if information about the depth of the curve is of particular importance for either research or clinical purposes. Additional testing is required to generate age- and gender-specific referent values, as well as to assess the sensitivity and specificity of the measures for categorization of spinal conditions. J Ortho Sports Phys Ther. 2002; 32(8):405-414.

Study Design: Prospective case series.

Objectives: The purpose of this case series was to describe the criteria used to determine if patients were to receive slump stretch treatment within a treatment-based classification system and to describe selected symptom characteristics associated with these patients.

Background: Previous reports from the literature suggest that the slump test position may be a useful treatment and evaluation technique. However, little information has been presented regarding how to identify patients who are appropriate to treat with slump stretching and the symptom characteristics associated with these patients.

Methods and Measures: Prior to recruitment, criteria were established to identify patients who would be considered appropriate to treat with slump stretching. Consecutive patients referred with low back diagnosis or low–back-related diagnoses were then evaluated using a treatment-based classification system. Selected symptom characteristics were collected from patients treated with slump stretching.

Results: Out of 88 consecutive patients with low back diagnoses or low–back-related diagnoses, 6 met the study’s inclusion criteria and were treated with slump stretching. All pain diagrams were classified as ‘‘organic’’ or ‘‘possibly organic,’’ and the most common symptom descriptor was ‘‘deep ache.’’ At the discharge session of physical therapy, 5 of 6 patients had symptoms that were more proximally located and all patients reported a decrease in symptom intensity.

Conclusion: Favorable changes in symptom intensity and location were observed for this case series, but definitive conclusions cannot be drawn from this study design. Additional research needs to be completed to determine if the slump test position is an effective evaluation and treatment technique.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2002; 32(8):391–398.

Key Words: classification, slump test, symptoms