Abstract
The test–retest reliability of the modified sensory interaction test on a force platform was performed in a group of 26 young and 15 elderly females for four sensory conditions: standing on firm and compliant surface with eyes open and closed. The test–retest reliability was good to excellent in both groups, with higher level of test–retest reliability in more demanding conditions. The most reliable time-domain variables for standing on firm surface with eyes open were: sway area from principal components (ICC = 0.77) for young and mean velocity, medio-lateral and total path lengths (ICC = 0.91) for elderly. For eyes closed, the most reliable variables were antero-posterior path length and sway area calculated by Fourier coefficients (ICC = 0.85) for young and medio-lateral path length (ICC = 0.93) for elderly. For compliant surface with open eyes, the most reliable variable was medio-lateral variability (ICC = 0.83) for young and total path length and mean velocity (ICC = 0.92) for elderly participants, whereas for eyes closed the most reliable variables were mean velocity, total and medio-lateral path lengths for young, and mean velocity for elderly group, all with ICC = 0.90. Modified sensory interaction test is therefore a reliable measure for balance and could be recommended as an outcome measure for balance retraining programmes.
Highlights
Postural sway during unperturbed stance is a consequence of constant adjustments of body segments
The results indicated that their postural integration system might already be challenged in a less demanding condition such as standing on a firm surface
Modified sensory interaction test measured on force platform has good to excellent test–retest reliability in a group of young and elderly women
Summary
Postural sway during unperturbed stance is a consequence of constant adjustments of body segments. Information from all sensory systems is not always available or accurate, and the postural control system must adjust to maintain steady stance in various environmental conditions [19]. Modified sensory interaction test (mSIT) measures balance during unsupported standing in four different sensory conditions: standing on a firm surface and on a compliant surface with eyes open and closed. Rugelj et al [26] and Domijan et al [21] performed the mSIT on a force platform that allowed monitoring of various variables related to the CoP movements. In those two studies, the mSIT on a force platform was used as an outcome measure test. The reliability of mSIT as a test performed for all four test conditions on a force platform has been tested only in a group of young gymnasts with various musculoskeletal problems [11]
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