Introduction
Materials and methods
Reliability
Normative data
Age (years) | Height (m) | Weight (kg) | BMI (index) | Dominant leg (%) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Children (10–14 years) | |||||
Male (n = 57) | 10.9 (±0.7) | 1.47 (±0.06) | 39.8 (±8.8) | 18.4 (±3.4) | 98-Right |
Female (n = 50) | 11.7 (±0.7) | 1.52 (±0.08) | 43.3 (±9.5) | 18.8 (±4.0) | 96-Right |
Youth (15–19 years) | |||||
Male (n = 57) | 16.2 (±0.8) | 1.77 (±0.07) | 67.8 (±10.8) | 21.6 (±3.1) | 96-Right |
Female (n = 70) | 16.1 (±1.1) | 1.67 (±0.06) | 59.8 (±9.8) | 21.4 (±3.5) | 97-Right |
Young adults (20–29 years) | |||||
Male (n = 51) | 24.8 (±2.6) | 1.79 (±0.06) | 74.8 (±6.3) | 23.3 (±1.7) | 85-Right |
Female (n = 51) | 23.6 (±2.5) | 1.65 (±0.06) | 59.5 (±7.1) | 20.9 (±1.9) | 69-Right |
Adults (30–50 years) | |||||
Male (n = 51) | 38.2 (±7.3) | 1.79 (±0.05) | 77.3 (±7.2) | 24.1 (±1.8) | 86-Right |
Female (n = 47) | 37.5 (±6.1) | 1.69 (±0.06) | 61.3 (±7.0) | 21.5 (±2.1) | 75-Right |
Test | Description |
---|---|
Stability test
| To assess postural control, tests were performed on an MFT Challenge Disc (TST Trendsport, Grosshöflein, Austria) connected to a PC. The disc is free to move in all directions. While balancing on the disc, Coordi software provides instant feedback about the position of the disc. To avoid the influence of different shoe types, all trials were performed without shoes. Subjects were instructed to stand in the centre with their arms at their sides
Variable level of stability [Index]
Two-leg stability test (TL-ST) subjects had to stand with both legs on the disc while maintaining their balance for 30 s. Data collection was immediately stopped in the case of a loss of balance
One-leg stability test (OL-ST) based on the two-leg test results, the test was performed with one leg. The subject was not allowed to stabilize the raised leg against the plate or standing leg |
Jumping test
| All jump tests were performed using Myotest (Myotest S.A., Sion, Switzerland) equipment. The subjects carried a belt around their hips, and the Myotester was placed above the greater trochanter of the hip. Before jumping, the subjects had to stand in an upright and still position
Variables jump height (cm), Power (W/kg), ground contact time (ms), reactivity (mm/ms)
Two-leg countermovement jump (TL-CMJ) a sound signal from the Myotester announced the start of the jump. From an upright position, the subjects quickly bent their knees and then immediately jumped upward, attempting to maximize their height. During this hop, arms were placed on the hips
One-leg countermovement jump (OL-CMJ) this was similar to the two-leg test, but this test was performed with one leg
Plyometric jump (TL-PJ) the subject had to perform three consecutive two-leg jumps, focusing on a maximum jump height and a fast ground contact time. Arms could be used to assist with the jump |
Speedy jump (OL-SY) the Speedy Basic Jump Set (TST Trendsport, Grosshöflein, Austria) was used to create the jump coordination path (right panel). The subjects performed one-footed jumps through the course of red (forward–backward–forward jumps) and blue (sideway jumps) hurdles, completing 16 jumps. This had to be performed as quickly as possible by jumping on one leg without a rest between the hurdles. Twisting of the hip was not allowed, and the test was immediately stopped when the raised leg touched the ground or the subject had direct contact with the speedy basic jump hurdles. Time was measured using two stopwatches beginning as soon as the subject started to jump and ending when he/she reached the finish line with one leg. The mean value was recorded for each jump
Variables time (s) | |
Quick feet test (TL-QFT) again, the Speedy Basic Jump Set (TST Trendsport, Grosshöflein, Austria) was used for the quick feet test as displayed in the picture. The subject had to step in and out with one foot after the other until 15 repetitions were completed. One repetition was finished when the starting leg returned to its initial position. The test was stopped if the subject reversed the order of the steps. Arms could be used to maintain balance, and stepping on the speedy pole was not allowed
Variables time (s) |
Statistical analysis
Reliability
Normative data
Results
Reliability
Functional test | Unit | Leg | Test | Retest | ICC |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
TL-ST | Level | 2.60 (±0.47) | 2.49 (±0.36) | 0.688 | |
OL-ST | Level | domL | 2.51 (±0.50) | 2.27 (±0.49) | 0.763 |
n-domL | 2.40 (±0.45) | 2.31 (±0.46) | 0.819 | ||
TL-CMJ | Height (m) | 38.1 (±0.7) | 37.6 (±0.6) | 0.921 | |
Power (W/kg) | 45.7 (±7.8) | 47.2 (±7.7) | 0.889 | ||
OL-CMJ | Height (m) | domL | 23.6 (±4.5) | 23.9 (±4.1) | 0.897 |
Power (W/kg) | domL | 36.2 (±8.1) | 36.0 (±7.8) | 0.822 | |
Height (m) | n-domL | 20.2 (±5.2) | 21.1 (±4.9) | 0.778 | |
Power (W/kg) | n-domL | 32.8 (±7.8) | 33.5 (±8.5) | 0.814 | |
TL-PY | Index | 2.0 (±0.4) | 1.9 (±0.5) | 0.838 | |
OL-S | Time (s) | domL | 6.3 (±0.8) | 6.1 (±0.7) | 0.792 |
n-domL | 6.4 (±0.9) | 6.3 (±0.9) | 0.825 | ||
TL-Q | Time (s) | 8.7 (±1.3) | 8.4 (±1.0) | 0.803 |
Normative data
NORMDATA | NORMDATA | ||
---|---|---|---|
Female; non-dominant leg | Female; dominant leg | ||
Level (index) | Description | Level (index) | Description |
≤1.74 | Very good | ≤1.76 | Very good |
1.75–2.05 | Good | 1.77–2.00 | Good |
2.06–2.90 | Average | 2.01–2.72 | Average |
3.00–3.30 | Weak | 2.73–2.96 | Weak |
≥3.31 | Very weak | ≥2.97 | Very weak |
NORMDATA | NORMDATA | ||
---|---|---|---|
Male; non-dominant leg | Female; dominant leg | ||
Level (index) | Description | Level (index) | Description |
≤1.98 | Very good | ≤2.00 | Very good |
1.99–2.31 | Good | 2.01–2.30 | Good |
2.32–3.09 | Average | 2.31–3.19 | Average |
3.30–3.62 | Weak | 3.20–3.49 | Weak |
≥3.63 | Very weak | ≥3.50 | Very weak |
Age category | Gender | Specificity (%) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
OL-ST | OL-CMJ | OL-SY | ||
Children | Female | 71 | 41 | 93 |
Male | 78 | 63 | 95 | |
Youth | Female | 68 | 53 | 88 |
Male | 67 | 59 | 90 | |
Young adults | Female | 76 | 51 | 92 |
Male | 74 | 47 | 93 | |
Adults | Female | 71 | 45 | 86 |
Male | 66 | 40 | 87 |