Repeated single-limb postural stability testing elicits a practice effect.

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Motor Control
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• The single-leg stance is a common clinical measure of balance.
• Understanding performance changes with repeated testing is crucial for accurate assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of repeated testing on single-leg stance balance performance.
• To quantify changes in balance errors over multiple test sessions.

Main Methods:

• A single cohort repeated measures design was employed.
• Thirty-two healthy participants completed six testing sessions.
• Errors in the single-leg stance task were recorded over six occasions.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant decrease in errors was observed across sessions (p=.0013).
• Performance improved systematically, with an average reduction of 1.5 errors per session.
• Linear regression confirmed a significant learning effect.

Conclusions:

• Repeated testing leads to improved performance on the single-leg stance balance task.
• Clinicians must account for this learning effect when interpreting results of rehabilitation interventions.
• The findings highlight the importance of considering practice effects in balance assessments.