OBJECTIVE: To document the effects of repeated testing on the single-leg stance balance task. DESIGN: Single cohort repeated measures. SETTING: Laboratory in an educational institution. SUBJECTS: Thirty-two healthy males and females. OUTCOME MEASURE: The number of errors (deviations from the required posture) during each 20-s trial summed over the eight conditions recorded on six occasions. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant (p=.0013) decrease in the number of errors recorded over the six sessions, from 26.8 (95% CI: 23.1-30.5) to 19.7 (95% CI: 16.3-23.1). Linear regression confirmed a systematic decrease of 1.5 errors per session on average (95% CI: 1.0-1.9; p<.0001). CONCLUSION: The decreased number of errors (increased performance) with repeated testing alerts clinicians to the need for care when using this test protocol to measure rehabilitation interventions.
OBJECTIVE: To document the effects of repeated testing on the single-leg stance balance task. DESIGN: Single cohort repeated measures. SETTING: Laboratory in an educational institution. SUBJECTS: Thirty-two healthy males and females. OUTCOME MEASURE: The number of errors (deviations from the required posture) during each 20-s trial summed over the eight conditions recorded on six occasions. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant (p=.0013) decrease in the number of errors recorded over the six sessions, from 26.8 (95% CI: 23.1-30.5) to 19.7 (95% CI: 16.3-23.1). Linear regression confirmed a systematic decrease of 1.5 errors per session on average (95% CI: 1.0-1.9; p<.0001). CONCLUSION: The decreased number of errors (increased performance) with repeated testing alerts clinicians to the need for care when using this test protocol to measure rehabilitation interventions.