Reliable lower limb musculoskeletal profiling using easily operated, portable equipment

Abstract

Objectives Jumping performance and movement-based screening tests are commonly performed on athletes pre-season. Little is known regarding the test-retest reliability of performance tests and associated movement patterns using easily operated, portable and cost effective equipment. The purpose of this study was to establish the test-retest reliability of performance and video-derived movement characteristics of six screening tests measured simultaneously using a contact mat and two-dimensional video analysis. Methods Twenty-four subjects (17 male/7 female) were tested on three occasions 5–12 days apart to establish test-retest reliability of the measurement tools used. The tests used were anterior step-up, double and single-leg countermovement jumps, double and single-leg reactive (drop) jumps, and single-leg side springs. Results Measures of performance demonstrated less variability (mean-typical error expressed as a coefficient of variation, CV 2.8–4.3%) and higher reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients, ICC 0.98–0.99) for floor-based tests (preceding values) than drop tests (CV 10.3–13.2%, ICC 0.83–0.85). All video-derived movement characteristics demonstrated low variability (CV 3.2–4.8%), but lower rank order repeatability (ICC 0.43–0.79). Conclusion The findings suggest that screening tests performed from the floor and measured simultaneously using a contact mat and two-dimensional movement analysis are reliable, and trialling these tests for the pre-season screening of athletes is supported.