ISOKINETIC AND NON-DYNAMOMETRIC TESTS IN LOW-BACK-PAIN PATIENTS RELATED TO PAIN AND DISABILITY INDEX

Study Design. This study compared isokinetic and non-dynamometric test s for their correlation with subjective low back pain symptoms. Method s. A total of 185 patients with chronic low back pain were examined. R esults. The repetitive arch-up and sit-up tests correlated significant ly with pain and disability (Million index) both in men and women (r r anged from -0.39 to -0.46; P < 0.001). In women, the isokinetic trunk flexion and extension tests and the non-dynamometric tests correlated equally well with the Million index. In men, the isokinetic flexion an d extension tests had weaker correlations. Overall, the isokinetic lif ting tests showed lower correlations than did the isokinetic trunk ext ension tests. In the isokinetic flexion and extension tests, fast test ing speeds (120 degrees/sec and 150 degrees/sec) correlated somewhat b etter with the subjective symptoms than did the lowest speed (30 degre es/sec). Conclusions. The non-dynamometric tests are still useful in c linical practice in spite of the development of more accurate muscle s trength evaluation methods.