Stabilometry and one-leg hop test have high test-retest reliability

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Motor Control
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Assessing balance and motor function relies on reliable measurement tools.
• Understanding learning or fatigue effects is crucial for accurate performance evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the reliability of repeated measurements in single-limb stabilometry and one-leg hop tests.
• To investigate potential learning or tiring effects during these tests.
• To analyze correlations among various stabilometric variables.

Main Methods:

• Seventy-five healthy participants underwent two testing sessions separated by a median of 7 days.
• Three consecutive measurements were taken for both single-limb stabilometry and one-leg hop tests on each occasion.
• Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Pearson correlation coefficients (r) were used for reliability and correlation analyses.

Main Results:

• High reliability was found for both single-limb stabilometry (ICC r = 0.68-0.83) and the one-leg hop test (ICC r = 0.96).
• Acceptable to high correlations were observed between consecutive stabilometry measurements (r = 0.42-0.90) and high correlations for the one-leg hop test (r = 0.91-0.97).
• A significant learning process was identified over time, and strong correlations (r = 0.73-0.95) were found between different stabilometric variables.

Conclusions:

• Single-limb stabilometry and one-leg hop tests are reliable for repeated assessments in healthy individuals.
• A learning effect should be considered in test protocols, although it does not compromise overall reliability.
• The strong correlations between stabilometric variables suggest interconnectedness in balance control mechanisms.