Reliability of the Beighton Score and Impact of Generalized Joint Mobility and Resting Scapular Position on Median Neurodynamic Test 1

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

10-2020

Abstract

Introduction

There is a lack of understanding of the impact of generalized joint mobility, joint hypermobility, and resting scapular position on neurodynamic testing of the median nerve. The objectives of the study were to determine: 1) the reliability of the Beighton score (BS) with and without the cutoff score for general joint hypermobility (GJH); 2) if there are differences in the Median Neurodynamic Test 1 (MNT 1) based on the Beighton cutoff score for GJH; 3) if there are differences in the MNT 1 based on an assessment of resting scapular position; 4) if there are relationships between the BS with and without the cutoff score for GJH, resting scapular position, and MNT 1.

Methods

Testing was performed by two testers at two-time intervals at least 1 week apart. The population of interest was healthy asymptomatic adults. The outcome measures included the BS, resting scapular position, and MNT 1.

Results

Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC2,1) were 0.52 for intertester reliability at visit 1 and 0.86 at visit 2, with intratester reliability of 0.88 for Tester 1 and 0.71 for Tester 2 for the BS. Intertester prevalence-adjusted bias-adjusted kappa (PABAK) values for the Beighton GJH cutoff scores were 0.80 to 0.84 and 0.80 to 0.92 for intratester reliability. There were no statistically significant differences or relationships for any of the other variables of interest.

Conclusion

Joint mobility and resting scapular position are not confounding variables when performing MNT 1 in an asymptomatic population.

Comments

In press, journal pre-proof. Available online August 7, 2020

Kylie Calandra, Kelsey Foster, Melissa Peet, and Matthew Walsh are students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Sacred Heart University.

DOI

10.1016/j.jbmt.2020.07.008

PMID

33218501

Publication

Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies

Volume

24

Issue

4

Publisher

Elsevier

Pages

131-137

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