The reliability of musculoskeletal screening tests used in cricket.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the inter- and intra-observer reliability of a field-based musculoskeletal screening protocol used to measure potential injury risk factors in cricket fast bowlers.


METHODS
Test-retest reliability study.


METHODS
High performance Australian cricket.


METHODS
Ten volunteers. Two sports physiotherapists conducted the testing.


METHODS
Participants completed the following tests: knee extension; modified Thomas test (hip extension and abduction); hip internal and external rotation; combined elevation; ankle dorsiflexion lunge; bridging hold; prone four point hold; and calf heel raises.


METHODS
For each of the tests, the participants were tested by each physiotherapist twice, and the inter- and intra-observer reliability were concurrently assessed.


RESULTS
The inter-observer reliability of the tests was generally poor, with only four of the ten tests having an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) greater than 0.80 (range of ICCs 0.27-0.99). The intra-observer reliability of the tests was considerably higher, with nine tests having an ICC greater than 0.80 (range of ICCs 0.56-0.99).


CONCLUSIONS
With the exception of the bridging hold, all tests would be considered acceptable where only one observer was conducting the testing. However, only the ankle dorsiflexion lunge, combined elevation test, calf heel raise test and prone four point hold have acceptable reliability when there are multiple physiotherapists recording measurements.
Dennis
Rebecca J
RJ
NSW Injury Risk Management Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia. rebecca.dennis@unsw.edu.au
Finch
Caroline F
CF
Elliott
Bruce C
BC
Farhart
Patrick J
PJ
D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001315:Australia; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000592:standards*; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000293:injuries*; D015588:Observer Variation; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards