Table 2 Adherence to single items in the physical therapeutic diagnostic process of LBP
From: Physical therapy for patients with low back pain in Germany: a survey of current practice
Item | n (%) | % of total study sample |
|---|---|---|
Physical therapeutic diagnostic process | 1321 (97) | 97 |
Do you evaluate medical history? | 1317 (100) | 97 |
Do you ask about pain characteristics (localization, course, etc.)? | 1317 (100) | 97 |
Asking about all (6) pain characteristics | 1068 (81) | 79 |
Do you ask about extra-spinal causes? | 947 (72) | 70 |
Do you ask about ‘red flags’? | 1161 (88) | 85 |
Asking about all (5) ‘red flags’ | 253 (22) | 19 |
Do you ask about ‘yellow flags’? | 1022 (78) | 75 |
Asking about ≥ 3 ‘yellow flags’ | 844 (83) | 62 |
Do you ask about ‘black/blue flags’? | 1154 (88) | 85 |
Asking about ≥ 3 ‘black/blue flags’ | 1041 (90) | 77 |
Do you conduct a physical examination (inspection, palpation, etc.)? | 1320 (100) | 97 |
Do you conduct an inspection? | 1292 (98) | 95 |
Do you conduct a palpation? | 1275 (97) | 94 |
Do you carry out an orienting movement testing? | 1259 (95) | 93 |
Do you test the straight leg raise and carry out the Bragard’s test in addition? | 1119 (85) | 82 |
Do you examine the sacroiliac joint? | 1109 (84) | 82 |
In case of suspected radicular symptoms, do you additionally conduct a neurological examination? | 1029 (78) | 83 |
Do you evaluate muscle strength to detect paresis? | 911 (89) | 67 |
Testing all (5) muscle groups | 489 (54) | 36 |
Do you test for sensory disorder? | 846 (82) | 62 |
Do you test the muscle reflexes? | 520 (51) | 38 |
Testing all (3) reflexes | 296 (57) | 22 |