Indicators of lumbar zygapophyseal joint pain: Survey of an expert panel with the delphi technique

Abstract

Background and Purpose: The lumbar zygapophyseal joints (LZJs) are thought to be a source of low back pain (LBP); however, no valid or reliable indicators exist. The purpose of this study was to obtain a consensus from an expert panel on the indicators of LZJ pain. Subjects: A multidisciplinary panel of 20 experts in the field of LBP participated in this study. Methods: A 3-round Delphi survey designed to obtain a consensus on the indicators of LZJ pain was completed by use of accepted protocols. Subjects also were asked to justify their selection of each indicator. Results: Following the 3 rounds, consensus was achieved, and 12 indicators were identified. Those that reached the highest leve..