Validity study for the cervical range of motion device used for lateral flexion in patients with neck pain

A set of measurements was compared with an accepted gold standard using a methodologic design. To estimate the criterion validity of the cervical range of motion device used for lateral flexion in patients with neck pain. Reliability of the cervical range of motion device has been well established. At this writing, only validity for flexion and extension of the cervical spine has been investigated with this device. The sample consisted of 24 volunteer subjects who had previously received physiotherapy for neck pain. In the radiograph department, subjects were stabilized on a chair. A first reading on the cervical range of motion device and a radiograph were taken in a neutral starting position. The subject then was asked to perform a maximal right lateral flexion, which was followed by a reading of the device and a second radiograph. The same procedures were followed for left lateral flexion. The cervical range of motion device demonstrated a very good linear relation with the radiograph measurements: left lateral flexion (r = 0.82,; 95% confidence interval, 0.62-0.92), right lateral flexion (r = 0.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.66-0.93). The cervical range of motion device showed very good validity for measurement of lateral flexion in this population of patients with neck pain. Because the reliability of the cervical range of motion device was established previously, the results of this study suggest that the device be used as an outcome measure for the cervical flexion, and for flexion and extension.