Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 24, 2026
Importance of Jumping Ability in Handball Throwing Speed and Accuracy
Published on: April 4, 2025
Conventional administration and scoring procedures suppress the diagnostic accuracy of a performance-based test
Andrew Sawers1, Brian J Hafner2
11 Department of Kinesiology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Background:
Practice effects have been observed among performance-based clinical tests administered to prosthesis-users. Their impact on test applications remains unknown.
Objective:
To determine whether scoring a clinical balance test using conventional procedures that do not accommodate practice effects reduces its diagnostic accuracy relative to scoring it using recommended procedures that do accommodate practice effects.
Study Design:
Cross-sectional study.
Methods:
Narrowing Beam Walking Test data from 40 prosthesis users was scored using recommended methods (i.e. average of trials 3-5) and conventional methods applied to other tests (i.e. mean or best of trials 1-3). Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for each method was compared to 0.50, to determine if it was better than chance at identifying prosthesis-users with a history of falls, and to 0.80, to determine if it surpassed a threshold recommended for diagnostic accuracy.
Results:
Receiver operating characteristic curve area decreased when the Narrowing Beam Walking Test was scored using conventional rather than recommended procedures. Furthermore, when scored using conventional procedures, the NBWT no longer discriminated between prosthesis-users with and without a history of falls with a probability greater than chance, or exceeded recommended diagnostic thresholds.
Conclusion:
Scoring the Narrowing Beam Walking Test using conventional procedures that do not accommodate practice effects decreased its diagnostic accuracy among prosthesis-users relative to recommended procedures. Conventional scoring procedures may limit the effectiveness of performance-based tests used to screen for fall risk in prosthesis-users because they do not mitigate practice effects. The influence of practice effects on other tests, and test applications (e.g. clinical evaluation and prediction), is warranted.
Clinical Relevance:
Scoring a clinical balance test using conventional procedures that do not mitigate practice effects reduced its diagnostic accuracy. Changing administration and scoring procedures to accommodate practice effects should be considered to improve the diagnostic accuracy of other performance-based balance tests.
More Related Videos
11:16Engineering Platform and Experimental Protocol for Design and Evaluation of a Neurally-controlled Powered Transfemoral Prosthesis
Published on: July 22, 2014
10:42Design to Implementation Study for Development and Patient Validation of Paper-Based Toehold Switch Diagnostics
Published on: June 17, 2022
Related Concept Videos
01:25Acid-Base Balance
When the pH of arterial blood rises above 7.45, it results in a condition called alkalosis. Conversely, a drop below 7.35 leads to...
01:29Disorders of Acid-Base Balance
Respiratory Acidosis and Alkalosis
Respiratory acidosis occurs due to an increase in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide PCO2 in the blood. It often arises from shallow breathing or impaired gas exchange caused by...
01:18Respiratory Regulation of Acid-Base Balance
When carbon dioxide levels increase in the blood, more H+ and HCO3⁻ are...
03:37Uncertainty in Measurement: Accuracy and Precision
01:29Renal Regulation of Acid-Base Balance
In the kidneys, cells within the proximal convoluted tubules (PCT) and the collecting ducts secrete hydrogen ions (H+) into the tubular fluid. Specifically, in the PCT, Na+/H+ antiporters secrete H+ while reabsorbing Na+.
However, the intercalated cells in...
02:07Improving Translational Accuracy