Introduction: Proprioception is the perception of the joint position and its movement and as afferent information arising from mechanoreceptors. There is numerous of different training models for improving impaired sensorimotor function. However, there is little agreement of what constitutes proprioceptive training. Reliable assessment of joint position sense it is essentially for implementation of proprioception training in clinical practice. Purpose: The purpose of the study is to asses the intra-rater reliability of joint position sense measurements with electrogoniometer and establish effect of exercise model for reducing knee and ankle injury on knee joint position sense in closed kinematic chain. Methods: 20 subjects participated in the study of reliability. In order to assess the reliability, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated. In second part of research involved 16 young badminton players. Measurements of joint position sense were performed using a biaxial electrogoniometer SG 110 (Biometrics Ltd.). Testing angles were 15° and 30° of knee joint flexion in closed kinematic chain. Results: Statistical data analysis revealed moderate intra-rater reliability for the 15° of knee joint flexion on the soft surface (ICC=0,66), for 30⁰ of knee joint flexion on the hard (ICC=0,55) and soft surface (ICC=0,50) and good reliability for 15° of knee joint flexion on the hard surface. There is no significantly improvement in knee joint position sense by badminton players after performing exercise model for reducing knee and ankle injury on knee joint position sense. Discussion and conclusion: According to the obtained results we conclude that the observed method is moderate to good reliable. The procedure of knee joint position sense measurements with electrogoniometer should be standardized. Exercise model was not effective on improving knee joint position sense of badminton players. Terminological unclarity on how proprioceptional training is defined is needed to be overcome. There is need for another more compareable research with higher methodological quality, including more specifically defined content of the proprioception training.
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