Novel Metrics for Assessing Mobility During Ground-Standing Transitions

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Rehabilitation Science
• Functional Mobility Assessment

Background:

• Ground-to-standing transitions are crucial for many professions, yet current assessments are limited.
• Novel functional mobility assessments, Stand-Prone-Standx2 (SPS2) and Stand-Kneel-Standx2 (SKS2), were developed.
• The study aimed to validate these new measures in able-bodied (AB) and unilateral lower extremity injury (LEI) service members.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the psychometric properties of the SPS2 and SKS2 tests.
• To assess the reliability and responsiveness of these novel functional mobility measures.
• To compare performance between able-bodied and injured service members.

Main Methods:

• 57 AB and 31 LEI service members participated.
• Test-retest reliability was assessed with a subset of participants.
• Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated for inter-rater and intersession reliability.

Main Results:

• SPS2 and SKS2 demonstrated excellent inter-rater and intersession reliability (ICC > 0.8) in both AB and LEI groups.
• The tests were responsive to LEI, with the LEI group showing significantly longer transition times.
• Performance was significantly slower in the LEI group compared to the AB group.

Conclusions:

• The SPS2 and SKS2 tests possess excellent reliability and responsiveness for assessing functional mobility.
• These measures can effectively identify mobility deficits in individuals with lower extremity injuries.
• The SPS2 and SKS2 are valuable tools for assessing ground-to-standing transitions in diverse populations, including those with LEI.