title: The reliability of the lateral step test.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Functional strength measures correlate more closely with functional performance than non-functional strength measures.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the reliability of the lateral step test as a measure of maximal strength.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intertester repeated measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty four healthy, pain free subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two protocols (A and B) were evaluated. The protocols were identical except protocol B involved a three second pause. Participants performed a one repetition maximum (1RM) for each protocol on two occasions separated by one week.
  
  
  METHODS
  Step height (nearest cm) representing 1RM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both protocols demonstrated excellent reliability, protocol A: ICC = 0.94 (95% CI, 0.87 to 0.97), SEM = 1.47 cm. Protocol B: ICC= 0.94 (95% CI, 0.85 to 0.97). Percent close agreement within 2 cm was 83.3% for protocol A and 79.1% for protocol B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both protocols demonstrated excellent inter-tester reliability as measures of functional lower limb strength.
authors.affiliation: School of Physiotherapy, University of Sydney, Lidcombe, New South Wales, Australia. annieking23@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Annabelle
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hancock
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Munn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results