title: Evaluation of changes in pelvic belt tension during 2 weight-bearing functional tasks.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purposes of this study were to evaluate changes in pelvic belt tension during 2 weight-bearing functional tasks (transition from bipedal to unipedal stance [BUS] and walking) and to evaluate the reliability and the percentage variation for belt tension scores from trial to trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional repeated-measures study was conducted with 10 healthy male participants (mean age, 28.3 ± 8.8years). Participants performed 10 trials of BUS and walking while wearing a nonelastic pelvic compression belt (PCB) applied distal to the anterior superior iliac spines, with a load cell positioned in the center of the belt. The load cell was calibrated using known weights (1-10kg) to define the relationship between the applied tension and voltage change (R(2) = 0.99). Load cell tension values were recorded in voltage signals and then converted to newtons of force using appropriate conversion values (0.012V = 10N). Mean and standard deviation values, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC 3,1), and percentage standard error of measurements (% SEM) were analyzed for PCB tension recorded during the BUS and walking trials.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean tension achieved with a PCB was found to be 41.02 (±4.23) N during BUS and 44.07 (±5.80) N during walking. The trial-to-trial reliability (ICC 3,1) was high (ICC ≥0.9), and the variation in PCB tension across 10 trials (% SEM) was 4% or less.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mean tension achieved during the tasks was 44 N or less. The reliability is high, and the variation is low across the trials, which implies that a PCB could be used to produce consistent effects during repetition of the tasks (BUS and walking).
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physiotherapy Research, School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. ashokan.arumugam@otago.ac.nz
authors.forename: Ashokan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arumugam
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Milosavljevic
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Woodley
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sole
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D009520:New Zealand; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D011312:Pressure; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012446:Sacroiliac Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult