Inter-Rater Reliability of Clinical Measures Associated with Previous History of Lower Leg Overuse Injury in Collegiate Athletes
Presenter: Caitlin I. Kirrane
Faculty Sponsor: Karen A. Keenan
School: Fitchburg State University
Research Area: Sports and Exercise Science + Physiology
Session: Poster Session 3, 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM, Auditorium, A38
ABSTRACT
Inter-rater reliability testing is important to ensure consistent, accurate, and reproducible data to validate research findings. Lower-leg overuse injury research often investigates neuromuscular deficits (e.g., strength, flexibility, postural control), which require precise measurement that novice raters may not be experienced with. PURPOSE: To determine the inter-rater reliability between two novice undergraduate researchers measuring dorsiflexion (DF) range of motion (ROM), hip external rotation (ER) and internal rotation (IR) ROM, hip abduction strength (ABD), and postural control between collegiate student-athletes with and without a previous history of LOI. METHODS: A total 10 NCAA varsity student-athletes will volunteer to participate in a single session, consisting of 3 trials (averaged) performed bilaterally. All measurements will be obtained by Researcher A and then Researcher B. A digital inclinometer will be used to measure DF ROM (weight-bearing lunge test) and hip active IR/ER ROM (prone). A handheld dynamometer will be used to assess hip ABD strength (side-lying). A single-leg squat test will be used to assess postural control, and knee valgus, pelvic drop, and trunk lean on the 3rd repetition will be measured in the CoachNow app. SPSS software will be used to calculate intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) to assess inter-rater reliability using a two-way random effects model (ICC[2,k]). (statistical significance: p<0.05, a priori). RESULTS: Data collection/analyses are ongoing and will conclude early April. CLINICAL IMPACT: If found to be reliable, these measures could be used to collect efficacious data in future research with novice undergraduate students.
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