How Many Measurement Times for Probe Reaction Time could be Yielded Optimum and Reliability?

Abstract

[Purpose] This study examined the reliability of measurement of the probe reaction time (P-RT) in different types of repetitive movement. Also the study tried to determine the optimal number of times P-RT should be taken to yield reliable measurements. [Subjects] Ten subjects (7 males, 3 females) measured on two consecutive days. [Methods] Six different types of movements were tested including rest sitting position, marking time on sitting, marking time on standing, walking, tapping with the non-dominant hand at 1 Hz and 4 Hz. Simple reaction time (SRT) and P-RT movements were measured 10 times. [Results] The results show that the P-RT of marking time on sitting position, marking time on standing, walking, tapping with the non-dominant hand at 1 Hz and tapping 4 Hz had high interclass correlation coefficients. Further analysis showed that there were significant correlations among the six different kinds of movements, and that the 3rd time measurement could yield the optimal results. [Conclusion] In the clinical field, especially for the patients who are not able to walk or stand and weak people, the number of times of testing for P-RT could be reduced for each the six movements.