Abstracto

Postural torsion syndrome algorithm (PTSA) as a method to quantify musculoskeletal health and predict injury.

Armia Abdo*, Vikas Sharma

Introduction: In Physical Therapy, developing proper preventive healthcare will require screening tools effective in identifying predictors of pain and injury. Postural Torsion Syndrome Algorithm (PTSA) is a musculoskeletal screening tool that uses a 5-point system measuring a specific angle of hypomobility in twenty key articulations on each side of the body. This measurable dysfunction can be used to predict injury and serve as a treatment guide justifying preventative care. Objective: The goal of this research was to determine PTSA ability to assess and quantify musculoskeletal health and potential of injury. Method: The subjects reported medical history, number of pathologies, severity of pain, and comorbidities. They were then assessed using PTSA. Severity of pain was graded as: 1 – Mild pain; 2 – Moderate; 3 – Severe. PTSA score of 70%, 65%, and 60% were used to find out the cut-off values and thus, the study subjects were divided into 2 groups, i.e., ≥ 70% and < 70%, ≥ 65% and < 65%, and ≥ 60% and < 60%, respectively. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve was used to find out the cut-off values of PTSA score, and thus, an appropriate sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion: The present study reported inverse correlation between PTSA score for participants, number of pathologies, severity of pain, and comorbidities. In addition, sensitivity and specificity was found to be 100%. Future studies should be performed with larger number of subjects to prove PTSA assessment effectiveness in quantifying musculoskeletal health and potential of injury.