Reliability of an adapted core strength endurance test battery in individuals with axial spondylarthritis

Abstract

Objectives To adapt the core strength endurance test battery (aCSE), previously used for testing athletes, to a target group of patients with axial spondylarthritis (axSpA), to evaluate its intra-tester reliability and its associations with disease-specific factors. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at axSpA exercise therapy groups, including both axSpA patients and the physiotherapist group leaders (PTs). The aCSE was used to measure the isometric strength endurance of the ventral, lateral, and dorsal core muscle chains (measured in seconds), as well as to assess the disease-specific factors of functional status, self-reported pain, and perceived strength performance. The aCSE was repeated after 7–14 days to measure intra-tester reliability for the same rater (PT group leader). Reliability was calculated as an intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) using a nested design. The associations between ventral, lateral, and dorsal strength endurance and the disease-specific factors were calculated using Pearson correlation coefficients. Results Study participants were 13 PT group leaders and 62 axSpA patients. The latter were all capable of performing the aCSE, with the exception of one individual. A moderate to substantial intra-rater reliability (ICCs (95%CI)) was found for the ventral (0.54 (0.35, 0.74)), lateral (0.52 (0.33, 0.70)), and dorsal (0.71 (0.58, 0.86)) core muscle chains. None of the aCSE measures correlated with the disease-specific factors. Conclusion The aCSE was found to be a reliable test battery for assessing core strength endurance in axSpA patients. Interestingly, aCSE performance was not associated with any disease-specific factors. Key Points • The adapted core strength endurance test battery measures the isometric strength of the ventral, lateral and dorsal core muscle chains. • The adapted core strength endurance test battery showed a moderate to substantial intra-rater reliability for all three muscle chains tested in axSpA patients. • No correlations were found between the adapted core strength endurance test battery and the disease-specific factors of self-reported pain, functional status and perceived strength performance.

Assessments zur Erhebung des Fitnesszustandes in Therapiegruppen für Personen mit axialer Spondyloarthritis – eine Machbarkeitsstudie

“…Die Zeitaufzeichnung wird gestoppt, wenn die Versuchsperson zum dritten Mal den Kontakt mit dem Stab verliert. Es wurde die detaillierte Instruktion zur Durchführung der modifizierten Rumpfkrafttestbatterie beschrieben und die Intertester-Reliabilität untersucht [12].…”

“…Das Auswahlprozedere erfolgte im Rahmen von Masterarbeiten an der ZHAW. Aufgrund dieser Kriterien wurden für die Evaluation der kardiorespiratorischen Fitness der Chester Step Test (CST) [11], für die Kraft die modifizierte Rumpfkrafttestbatterie [12], für die Beweglichkeit der Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) [13] und für die Neuromotorik der Einbeinstand (Single Leg Stance Test, SLST) [14] ausgewählt.…”

Strength and Power-Related Measures in Assessing Core Muscle Performance in Sport and Rehabilitation

“…Good isometric muscular endurance has been understood to prevent LBP occurrence ( Biering-Sørensen, 1984 ). However, a recent study by Rausch et al (2021) reported no correlations between endurance tests that assess an isometric strength of the dorsal, lateral and ventral chains of the core muscles and perceived strength performance, functional status, and self-reported disease-specific pain in individuals with axial spondylarthritis. Furthermore, similar scores in the Bunkie test (a functional performance test consisting of 5 test positions performed bilaterally) were found in subjects with and without a prior history of musculoskeletal injury ( Brumitt, 2015 ).…”