Reliability of a Novel Visual Feedback System Developed for Increasing the Efficiency of Posterior Pelvic Tilt Exercise

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to develop and assess the reliability of a visual feedback system intended to improve the patient’s perception and the performance of posterior pelvic tilt [PPT] exercises. The feedback setup designed and constructed by the authors included a bed covered with a mat with three embedded force sensors corresponding to the lumbosacral region of the subject lying supine; a data acquisition card to collect and convert data; and two monitors, one above the subject and one on the physician’s table. Software was developed to monitor the force exerted vertically upon the force sensors during PPT to be followed both by the physician and the subject.

Methods: Fifteen healthy volunteers were enrolled for a relability trial. The subjects were asked to perform five consecutive PPT with maximum effort. Each subject was evualated three times by two physicians. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were computed to determine the intrarater and interrater reliability of the maximum force values measured by the visual feedback PPT exercise system.

Results: The ICC were 0.89 and 0.98 for intrarater and 0.89, 0.89, and 0.96 for interrater reliability.

Conclusions: The novel visual feedback system for PPT proved to be highly reliable for both intrarater and interrater measurements of maximum force.

• Exercise
• feedback
• force
• low back pain
• reliability