Validity and Reliability of Kinovea Software Measurement of Lumbar Extensibility Using Modified-Modified Schober Test

Reduced lumbar mobility has been associated with various musculoskeletal alterations, including low back pain, changes in movement patterns, and increased risk of spinal disorders. Lumbar range of motion is considered a crucial parameter in determining disability for compensation claims and litigation worldwide.

The Modified-Modified Schober Test (MMST) is a widely used clinical tool for assessing lumbar range of motion, particularly flexion. This test utilizes the posterior superior iliac spines (PSIS) as the lower anatomical landmark and a point 15 cm above as the upper landmark, measuring the increase in distance during forward flexion.

Despite some limitations, the MMST remains a recommended clinical tool due to its simplicity and established reliability.

Regarding extensibility measurement, recent research has demonstrated that Kinovea software exhibits excellent intra-rater reliability, excellent inter-rater reliability, and strong criterion validity for measuring hamstring extensibility using the sit and reach test when compared to traditional tape measurements.

Therefore, this study aims to fill this research gap by measuring the validity \& reliability of Kinovea software program in measuring lumbar extensibility using the Modified-Modified Schober Test by examining the psychometric properties of Kinovea for lumbar spine assessment as the kinovea software is low cost, provide more accurate data and easy to use.