Reliability Of Kraus-Weber Exercise Test As An Evaluation Tool In Low Back Pain Susceptibility Among Apparently Healthy University Students

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine strength and flexibility of the spinal and hamstring muscles among University of Ibadan students and the reliability of Kraus-Weber (K-W) exercise test. The Kraus-Weber test, involves a series of exercises that measure minimum strength and flexibility of the back, abdominal, psoas and hamstring muscles. Two hundred subjects (100 males and 100 females); ages ranging between 18 and 30 years, with no previous or present complaints of injury to the back and lower limbs were selected for the study using the non-probability sampling technique of sample of convenience. The Kraus-Weber test was carried out on the subjects whose age, gender, height, total body weight and responses to prepared questions had earlier been recorded, on two occasions with a day\'s interval. Many of the subjects (52%) failed the K-W test aimed at evaluating minimum abdominal, psoas, upper and lower back muscle strength and the back and hamstring muscle flexibility. Body mass index, weight, height and previous history of low back pain had low and negative correlation with performance in Kraus-Weber test while recreational/physical exercise had positive but low correlations with the test. It was concluded that K-W test is reliable and an easy to administer exercise test. It was recommended that individuals with weak abdominal and back muscles should be taken through remedial exercises. It was also suggested that all individuals without low back pain should make a habit of recreational exercise especially those subjects who failed the K-W test.

Keywords: Kraus-Weber test, low back pain, muscle flexibility, muscle strength.

African Journal for Physical, Health Education, Recreation and Dance Vol. 14 (2) 2008: pp. 188-198