Gunnar Lundberg, and Björn Gerdle
DOI: 10.1080/1650197731197206

The aim of this study was to investigate joint mobility, segmental and general spinal mobility and their interrelationship in 607 women working as homecare personnel. Joint mobility (mainly periph- eral) was estimated using the “Beighton” score. Spinal posture and mobility were measured by Debrunner’s kyphometer. Passive segmental mobility and pain provocation were estimated manually. Reliability tests between two physiotherapists of segmental mobility and pain provocation (n = 150 subjects) were performed. Positive correlations were found between joint mobility, sagittal thoraco-lum- bar mobility and segmental mobility. Hyperlordosis (b39°) was associated with greater lumbar mobility. The reliability of manual segmental mobility and segmental pain provocation was good, especially in the lowest back segments (kappa 􏰊 0. 7). Joint mobi- lity, general mobility and segmental spinal mobility intercorrelated. Segmental mobility manually esti- mated showed intertester reliability. The good positive correlation between sagittal lumbar mobility and manually tested segmental mobility indicates criterion validity for the latter