The influence of test repetition on bipodal visually controlled static and dynamic balance

This study explores the influence of test repetition on bipodal visually controlled balance, both static and dynamic. Our goal was to get an insight into the pattern of changes in posture maintenance results during repeated balance tests. Fifteen young, healthy male recreational athletes were tested for static and for dynamic balance using KAT 2000 balance platform. The subjects first performed three trial tests of static and dynamic balance to get used to the platform followed by seven repetitions of static as well as dynamic test which were recorded. During the repeated tests we could not determine any significant improvements of static balance test resulting from number of test repetitions neither in static nor in dynamic balance (Friedman ANOVA: Static balance p = 0.497, Dynamic balance p = 0.393). Correlating static and dynamic balance results we found that only one third of the dynamic balance was related to static balance abilities (r2 = 0.36). Possible patterns in front-back and left-right directions were analyzed as well, however, none of these balance scores were found to be related to the number of repetitions. In conclusion, this study found no significant influence of limited number of repetitions (seven) on test results in static and dynamic posture. However, as large number of repetitions might still influence test results we discourage the use of KAT 2000 as a training tool in patients in which it will be used as an instrument to validate postoperative rehabilitation or investigation results.