Is it possible to differentiate people with or without low-back pain on the basis of tests of lumbopelvic dysfunction?

Objective: To determine the prevalence of positive chiropractic test result s in relation to low back pain status and to determine the sensitivity, spe cificity, and predictive (positive and negative) values of these tests. Design: Study subjects were examined by a chiropractor who was unaware of t heir low back pain status. Information on low back pain was then collected in a self-report questionnaire. Setting: Research laboratory at the Odense University Hospital (Denmark). Subjects: A subset of 166 healthy twins taken from a panel of population-ge nerated twins born between 1953-1982. Examiner: Chiropractor with approximately 10 years of clinical experience. Main Outcome Measures: The prevalence of a number of lumbopelvic dysfunctio nal tests (4 observational, 6 pain-on-movement, and 2 pain provocation test s), and a diagnostic conclusion based on these lest results were studied in relation to low back pain status. Results: There was no single test that was clinically acceptable in relatio n to all 5 aspects of the study. At least one pain-on-movement test was the only variable that had a totally acceptable pattern. Conclusion: Although no individual test was accurate, the diagnostic discri mination on the basis of these tests was satisfactory.