EVALUATION OF THE RELIABILITY OF THERAPISTS TO PALPATE INTRA-PELVIC MOTION USING THE STORK TEST ON THE SUPPORT SIDE
Hungerford B, Gilleard W, Emmerson C, Moran M
J. Physical Therapy 2007. 87(7) pp879- 887
Abstract
Background. Clinical indicators of pelvic girdle dysfunction are limited, however research has shown that patterning of intra-pelvic motion alters during single leg support in subjects with pelvic girdle pain (PGP). Functionally, no relative motion should occur within the pelvis during load transfer, while anterior rotation of the innominate relative to the sacrum occurs during weight bearing in the presence of PGP. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the pattern of intra-pelvic motion could be reliably detected during a new clinical assessment test for functional load transfer: the Stork test on the support side.
Methods. Three therapists were randomly assigned to palpate bone motion of the innominates and sacrum in 33 subjects during the stork test on the support side. The direction of bone motion was indicated on a 2-point and 3-point scale.
Results. Inter-therapist reliability to agree on the pattern of intra-pelvic motion occurring during load transfer showed good reliability (Left k = 0.67 and Right k = 0.77) and high percentage of agreement (left =91.9%, right = 89.9%) when using a two point scale. A three point scale showed moderate reliability for both the left and right sides (Left k = 0.59 and Right k = 0.59), with the percentage of agreement decreasing to 82.8% (left) and 79.8% (right).
Conclusions. The ability of the therapists to reliably palpate and recognise altered patterning of intra-pelvic motion during the Stork test on the support side was substantiated. The ability to distinguish between no relative movement, versus anterior rotation of the innominate during a load bearing task, was good. Further research is required to determine the validity of this test in detecting pelvic girdle dysfunction.
Reference:
J. Physical Therapy 2007. 87(7) pp879- 887