Functional test batteries for the lower extremities are fundamental in the sport practice as they allow creating baseline of reference data to be used in the prevention field to detect deficits and asymmetries, to improve performance and for rehabilitation purposes after injuries until the return to the competition. In order for test battery to be clinically useful, it first needs to be also reliable. The test-retest reliability is a minimum necessary condition for a finding to be credential and informative. The aim of the study is to analyze the reliability of the proposed test battery for the lower extremities with one week interval between testing sessions. A number of 22 healthy sports students (14 males and 8 females; age 23.3 ± 3.9 years old) were tested two times in an interval period of one week with a functional test battery for the lower extremities. The test battery is comprised of a balance test (Y-Balance test), 4 hop tests (Countermovement jump, Jump for distance, Side hop, Speedy jump) and two sprint tests (T-agility, Lower extremity functional test). The test battery showed a good to excellent test-retest reliability for the single measures (0.84 < ICC < 0.98) and for the average measures (0.911 < ICC < 0.992). In addition, an excellent Cronbach α (0.91 < α < 0.99) was obtained. In terms of sex diversity in following tests Countermovment, Jump for distance, Side hop, Speedy jump and T-Agility there were statistically significant differences in favour of male participants. Each individual test was found to have high interrater reliability as well high reliablity for whole test battery. The established norm data from healthy sport students of each test battery represents an important basis for a sport performance and injury prevention setting.
|
