Title : Reliability of bridge tests in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract:
Objectives: To assess the reliability of the prone (PBT) and side bridge test (SBT) and their suitability for being included in the routine medical spine examination
Methods: PubMed (MEDLINE), EMBASE and EBSCOhost (CINHAL) were searched. Studies assessing intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of the PBT and SBT via intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), in adults with and without LBP were included. QAREL (Quality Appraisal for Reliability Studies) checklist was used for risk of bias assessment. Meta-analyses were performed to pool summarized ICCs and its 95% confidence interval (CI) for each test. PROSPERO registration: CRD42024489351.
Results: Thirteen studies were included, these showed adequate sample and rater representativeness but unclear blinding methods. The overall pooled intra-rater ICC for the PBT, right and left SBT was 0.92 (CI= 0.89, 0.93, k=9, p<0.001, I² = 12%), 0.82 (CI= 0.75, 0.88, k=9, p<0.001, I²= 40%) and 0.89 (CI=0.82, 0.93, p<0.001, k=8, I² = 52%), respectively. The few studies reporting inter-rater ICC for PBT, right SBT and left SBT, led to significant ICCs ≥0.82. Furthermore, the duration of right SBT was significantly (P<0.001) lower for LBP (43 seconds [24;61], k=2) compared to non-LBP (81 seconds [74;99], k=10).
Conclusion: PBT and SBT are both reliable endurance tests for adults. Given the low costs and easy application by any healthcare professional, future studies should focus on the implementation of BT in the medical spine examination.
