Inter-rater and test-retest reliabilities of lumbar stiffness measurement in the postero-anterior direction using a portable algometer and the Kinovea program.

Background: Back pain negatively impacts a person's quality of life and can cause major disability or even death. The measurement of spinal stiffness can be utilized as a promising tool to guide therapeutic decisions regarding physical therapy that result in effective back pain management. This study aimed to determine the reliability of instrumented postero-anterior (PA) stiffness assessment of the lumbar spine in asymptomatic participants by novice assessors using a portable algometer and the Kinovea program.