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Article ID	#18693
Title	Reliability of a clinical test for deep cervical flexor endurance
URL	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=16461172
Journal	J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2006 Feb;29(2):134-138
Author(s)	Dunker J Glanz D Hicks J Millar AL Olson LE
Subject(s)	Flexion Neck Muscles / physiology Physical Endurance Physical Examination
Peer Review	Yes
Publication Type	Article
Abstract/Notes	OBJECTIVE: Endurance deficiencies of the deep cervical flexors are associated with pain, increased lordosis, and headache. A need exists for reliable clinical tests of flexor endurance. This study determined intrarater and interrater reliability of such a test in persons without neck pain. METHODS: Twenty-seven subjects (aged 20-35 years) without a history of neck pain or injury were tested. Supine subjects were timed in maintaining a position involving two components: (1) craniovertebral flexion (chin tuck) and (2) lower cervical flexion (holding the occiput at a fixed height). Each subject was examined twice by 3 different examiners with 1 to 2 days between trials. RESULTS: When two values were averaged, interrater reliability for the 3 testers was 0.83, 0.85, and 0.88. Intrarater reliability values were 0.78 and 0.85 for tests 1 and 2, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The flexor endurance test showed good intertester and intratester reliability when two values were averaged and, thus, may represent a useful clinical tool for practitioners involved in treating and preventing neck pain. Click on the above link for the PubMed record for this article; full text by subscription. The abstract is reproduced here with the permission of the publisher.

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