The 30-Second Roll to Quadruped Test: Linking Muscle Strength and Endurance with Rolling

Quantitative tests are common for documenting transfers and gait status. While qualitative rolling tests have been attempted, a quantitative measurement for rolling does not currently exist.The purpose of this study was to determine if the 30-second Roll to Quadruped test (30RQ) can serve as a measurement of rolling ability and to explore relationships between participants' rolling abilities, rolling strategies, strength, endurance, age, sex, activity levels, and BMI.

Cross-Sectional Study.

Eighteen healthy adults (n=18, age range: 20-40 years) without musculoskeletal impairments were recruited for participation in this study. Muscle strength of select muscles of the shoulder, hip, elbow, and knee was assessed using hand-held dynamometry. Core endurance and lower extremity endurance were measured using a maximum duration plank test and the 30-Second Chair Stand test, respectively. The 30RQ test involved participants performing repeated supine-to-quadruped rolls for 30 seconds, with the number of successful rolls recorded. Video recordings were used to capture rolling strategies for qualitative and to record numbers for quantitative analysis and were reviewed by three physical therapists. Correlational analyses were also used to examine the relationships between 30RQ performance, subject characteristics, and all other outcomes.

The 30RQ test performance showed several significant correlations (p < 0.05). Male sex was strongly correlated with increased total number of rolls (r = 0.770) and use of the pivot technique (r = 0.765). Increased total roll count demonstrated strong positive correlations with multiple increased strength measures and the pivot rolling strategy showed a strong positive correlation with an increased total number of rolls completed (r = 0.778).

These findings suggest that the 30RQ test may serve as a useful assessment tool for evaluating rolling ability and that increased rolling ability correlates with increased upper and lower extremity strength, lower extremity endurance, male sex, and use of the pivot rolling strategy. Further studies with larger populations are needed.

Level 3.