Validation, reliability, and responsiveness outcomes of kinematic assessment with an RGB-D camera to analyze movement in subacute and chronic low back pain

Background: The RGB-D camera is an alternative to asses kinematics in order to obtain objective measurements of functional limitations. The aim of this study is to analyze the validity, reliability, and responsiveness of the motion capture depth camera in sub-acute and chronic low back pain patients. Methods: Thirty subjects (18–65 years) with non-specific lumbar pain were screened 6 weeks following an episode. RGB-D camera measurements were compared with an inertial measurement unit. Functional tests included climbing stairs, bending, reaching sock, lie-to-sit, sit-to-stand, and timed up-and-go. Subjects performed the maximum number of repetitions during 30 s. Validity was analyzed using Spearman’s correlation, reliability of repetitions was calculated by the intraclass correlation coefficient and the standard error of measurement, and receiver operating characteristic curves were calculated to assess the responsiveness. Results: The kinematic analysis obtained variable results according to the test. The time variable had good values in the validity and reliability of all tests (r = 0.93–1.00, (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.62– 0.93). Regarding kinematics, the best results were obtained in bending test, sock test, and sit-to-stand test (r = 0.53–0.80, ICC = 0.64–0.83, area under the curve (AUC) = 0.55–84). Conclusion: Functional tasks, such as bending, sit-to-stand, reaching, and putting on sock, assessed with the RGB-D camera, revealed acceptable validity, reliability, and responsiveness in the assessment of patients with low back pain (LBP). Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03293095 “Functional Task Kinematic in Musculoskeletal Pathology” September 26, 2017.