Eligibility of the movement-based classification systems in the diagnosis of patients with low back pain: A systematic review

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the eligibility of the movement-based classification systems in the diagnosis of patients with low back pain.

Methods: The present systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta -Analysis guidelines. Different databases including PubMed, Science Direct, OVID, MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, ProQuest and Google Scholar were searched from January 1990 to December 2017. All studies assessed the reliability and validity of the movement-based classification systems to diagnose patients with low back pain were included. The keywords used to search the studies were: "reliability", "validity", "classification", "movement impairment" and "low back pain". Study selection and data extraction were performed by two independent reviewers.

Results: Sixteen articles were met the inclusion criteria. Of these articles, 13 studies assessed the reliability and validity of movement-based classification systems to categorize patients with low back pain. Two out of 16 articles compared patients with low back pain and healthy subjects and one article had no control group.

Conclusions: The results of the reviewed studies demonstrated that movement-based classification systems are valid and reliable enough to categorize patients with low back pain.

Keywords: Classification; Low back pain; Movement; Reliability; Review; Validity.