Use of tape measure in people with or without back pain in assessment of reposition error

AIM: Examining lumbar repositioning error (RE) using a tape measure in nonspecific low back pain (NLBP) and control groups and determining whether RE is different in subjects with nonspecific back pain than in controlled subjects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was totally applied to 36 subjects of whom 18 were healthy subjects and 18 were NLBP patients. The ability of the subjects to take the targeted positions was assessed. In subjects with NLBP the evaluation of the pain was assessed by using Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and disability measurement was made using Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). RESULTS: RE was found in all the measurements except for lumbar flexion with eyes open(p=0.15) in control group (p < 0.05). There were RE for all the measurements in NLBP grpup (p < 0.05). When RE of two groups compared only lumbar flexion with eyes open measurement (p = 0.04) in NLBP group was higher then control group. CONCLUSION: As a result of our study, it has been seen that RE measurement of the lumbar spine with tape measure, which is cheap and clinically practical, is a reliable method, and can be used in the assessment of NLBP patients and in the determination of the rehabilitation program.