Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 14, 2025
Evaluating Postural Control and Lower-extremity Muscle Activation in Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability
Published on: September 18, 2020
Validity and reliability of video analysis to evaluate ankle proprioceptive reintegration during postural control
Brice Picot1, Jeanne Dury2, Guillaume Néron3
1Fédération Française de Handball, Creteil, France; Société Française des Masseurs-Kinésithérapeutes du Sport (SFMKS Lab), Pierrefite sur Seine, France; Université Savoie Mont-Blanc, Laboratoire Interuniversitaire de Biologie de la motricité EA 7424, 73000 Chambéry, France; Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Laboratoire de Traitement de l'Information Médicale, INSERM U1101 Brest, France.
Background:
The ability to dynamically reintegrate proprioceptive signals after they have been perturbated is impaired in certain pathologies. Evaluation of proprioceptive reintegration is useful for clinical practice but currently requires expensive laboratory tools. We developed a simple method, accessible to clinicians.
Research Question:
Is two-dimensional (2D) video analysis of earlobe displacement a valid and reliable tool for the evaluation of ankle proprioceptive reintegration following muscle vibration?
Methods:
Thirty-eight healthy individuals underwent vibration of the triceps surae while standing on a force plate (FP). Anterior (sagittal plane) earlobe displacement ('overshoot') was recorded at vibration cessation using 2D video analysis and rated by 3 blind examiners. Correlation analysis was performed between earlobe and center of pressure displacement (dCoP, recorded with the FP) to determine validity. Intra and interrater reliability were determined by calculation of the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), change in the mean (CiM), standard error of measurement (SEM) and the minimal detectable change (MDC).
Results And Significance:
Strong positive correlations (r = 0.82-0.94, p < .001) were found between video and FP data. Intra- and interrater reliability were excellent (ICC from 0.99 to 1.00 and from 0.90 to 0.97 respectively). For intrarater analysis, the CiM was 0.01 cm, SEM were 0.27 cm (95% CI: 0.23-0.33) and 3.43% (95% CI: 2.92-4.20) and the MDC was 0.74 cm. For interrater reliability, the CiM ranged from - 0.81-0.55 cm, the SEM from 0.61 to 1.12 cm and the MDC from 1.69 to 3.10 cm. 2D video analysis of anterior (sagittal) earlobe displacement is therefore a valid and reliable method to assess postural recovery following muscle vibration. This simple method could be used by clinicians to evaluate the ability of the central nervous system to reintegrate proprioceptive signals from the ankle. Further studies are needed to assess its validity in individuals with proprioceptive impairment.
