Intraexaminer and interexaminer reliability of the Gillet test

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the intraexaminer and interexaminer reliability of the Gillet test. Study Design: In a test-retest study the incidence of asymmetric or symmetric sacroiliac joint motion was investigated with the Gillet test. Methods: Forty-one male subjects volunteered for this study (mean age, 23 ± 2.24 years). Thirty-eight subjects were examined in the first test procedure, and at least 4 days later 37 subjects were examined again. The subjects were subdivided into symptomatic and asymptomatic groups on the basis of certain criteria. Results: To obtain the intraexaminer and interexaminer reliability values, Cohen's kappa, the percentage agreement, bias-adjusted kappa, and prevalence-adjusted bias-adjusted kappa were used. The mean Cohen's kappa did not exceed the value of 0.081. Only the percentage agreement of the symptomatic group did exceed the minimum level of 80%. When kappa was positive, the prevalence-adjusted bias-adjusted kappa was markedly higher than kappa; when kappa was negative, the prevalence-adjusted bias-adjusted kappa was only slightly higher than kappa. Only small differences were found between kappa and bias-adjusted kappa. Conclusion: The Gillet test, as performed in this study, does not appear to be reliable. (J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1999;22:4–9)