Journal of rehabilitation medicine : official journal of the UEMS European Board of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine
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The objective of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of common questionnaires and measures of physical performance in low back pain (LBP) syndrome. One hundred and fourteen patients with LBP classified according to the Quebec Task Force were compared with 50 patients with different pain syndromes but without apparent LBP. The discriminating value of each variable was estimated by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve. ⋯ In conclusion, disability questionnaires have discriminating power. The trunk muscle strength test does not perform well as a diagnostic tool. The area under the ROC curve and the use of other patients as controls make it easier to assess the diagnostic specificity of a particular method.