Based on the upper threshold used ( kappa/ICC > 0.85 ) most procedures demonstrated either conflicting evidence or moderate to strong evidence of low reliability .
When the lower threshold was used ( kappa/ICC > 0.70 ) evidence about pain response to repeated movements changed from contradictory to moderate evidence for high reliability .
Most procedures commonly used by clinicians in the examination of patients with back pain demonstrate low reliability
The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the quality of the research and to assess the reliability of different types of physical examination procedures used in the assessment of patients with non-specific low back pain .
Intertester Reliability of McKenzie's Classifications of the Syndrome Types Present in Patients with Low Back Pain
The McKenzie system for examining and treating patients with low back pain is frequently used by clinicians . The primary purpose of this multicenter study was the determine the intertester reliability of assessment s of patients with low back pain when physical therapists used the McKenzie method . A second purpose was to determine if previous postgraduate training in the McKenzie system affects reliability . Some therapists had previously undertaken postgraduate training in the McKenzie system .  All therapists were given written descriptions of the McKenzie method and the criteria used to classify patients , Classifications were made on 363 patients with low back pain by r and omly paired physical therapists in eight clinics . The Kappa value on agreement of patient classification was 0.26 , which suggests poor reliability . Therapists agreed on which syndrome was present 39 % of the time . Previous postgraduate training did not reliability . The results suggest that assessment s of the syndrome present in patients ; with low back pain appear to be unreliable when using the McKenzie system
Based on the upper threshold used ( kappa/ICC > 0.85 ) most procedures demonstrated either conflicting evidence or moderate to strong evidence of low reliability .
When the lower threshold was used ( kappa/ICC > 0.70 ) evidence about pain response to repeated movements changed from contradictory to moderate evidence for high reliability .
Most procedures commonly used by clinicians in the examination of patients with back pain demonstrate low reliability
The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the quality of the research and to assess the reliability of different types of physical examination procedures used in the assessment of patients with non-specific low back pain .