Two Longtime Family and Community Medicine Researchers Present Groundbreaking Project on Diagnostic Motion Tests at AOA

October 31, 2002

By Letitia V. Fowler

Two members of the MSU Department of Family and Community Medicine's Division of Research presented their findings on diagnostic motion tests at this year's 107th annual American Osteopathic Association (AOA) convention in Las Vegas. The two researchers also presented related findings at this year's Michigan Osteopathic Association (MOA) conference.

William L. Johnston, D.O. and Joseph Vorro, Ph.D., presented their poster titled, "An EMG Analysis of Active and Passive Mid-Thoracic Spinal Segment Patterns Occurring During Diagnostic Motion Tests." Johnston and Vorro have been conducting spinal motion research for over two decades. An abstract of this work appeared in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association (JAOA) 2002; 8:441.

Their recent analysis examined electromyographic or EMG signal dynamics gathered during an osteopathic physical diagnostic test for rotation of the mid-thoracic spinal region.

"We found that a trained examiner was able to intimately duplicate a subject's customary active EMG patterns," Johnston said. "This tells us that the physical diagnostic test itself does not interfere with the patient's motor pattern when it is being evaluated by a physician."

Regional motion tests conducted during a patient's physical examination are used assess presence of motion asymmetry or dysfunction in the body's spinal column.

"Testing clinical procedures is critical to quality patient care. Physicians must have confidence in the objectivity of physical diagnostic procedures, and in their relationship to adequate diagnosis and effective treatment," Vorro said.