Evaluation of measurement reliability for selected indices of postural stability based on data from the GYKO Inertial Sensor System

Abstract

The main aim of this study is to use comprehensive statistical analyses to evaluate measurement reliability of selected variables that characterize postural stability. The study examined twenty-nine healthy nonathlete students. The examinations were performed twice, with a one-week interval. The Microgate GYKO inertial sensor system was used to evaluate the reliability of variables that characterize postural stability. The relative reliability of the repeated test was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Next, the standard error of measurement (SEM) and minimal detectable change (MDC) were computed. Relative reliability of the repeated test for all analysed variables of ICC ranged from 0.31 to 0.75. For four variables, ICC values were ca. 0.7, i.e., they can be considered as good. For four other variables, ICC ranged from 0.41 to 0.54, with these values considered fair. Satisfactory reproducibility of postural stability measurements using the GYKO inertial sensor system demonstrates that it can offer an inexpensive and efficient alternative to measurements that use force balance platforms.

Keywords

• postural stability
• accelerometer
• test-retest reliability
• intraclass correlation coefficient
• students