Learning effects of repetitive administrations of the sensory organization test in healthy young adults.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the learning effect of multiple administrations of the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) on performance and to begin to establish clinical meaningful change scores for the SOT.


METHODS
Descriptive case series.


METHODS
University-affiliated clinic.


METHODS
Healthy young adults (6 men, 7 women; mean age, 24+/-4y).


METHODS
All subjects performed the standardized SOT using the SMART EquiTest 5 times over a 2-week period, and 1 month later.


METHODS
Composite and individual SOT test condition standardized equilibrium scores.


RESULTS
Test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient model 2,3) of the composite (.67) and equilibrium score (range, .35-.79) were fair to good. Repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed a significant (P<.05) increase in the composite and equilibrium scores for conditions 4, 5, and 6 over the 5 sessions that plateaued after the third session, and were retained at 1 month. The 95% confidence interval for the composite score change from session 1 to session 4, the plateau of the learning effect, was 3.9 to 8.1.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the findings of this study would indicate that multiple baseline measures are desirable for the more challenging conditions, a composite change of greater than 8 points would indicate change due to rehabilitation.
Wrisley
Diane M
DM
Department of Rehabilitation Science, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA. dwrisley@buffalo.edu
Stephens
Marilee J
MJ
Mosley
Shaun
S
Wojnowski
Adam
A
Duffy
Jordan
J
Burkard
Robert
R
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007721:Knowledge of Results, Psychological; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D004856:Postural Balance; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012691:Serial Learning