title: Balance Assessment in Sports-Related Concussion: Evaluating Test-Retest Reliability of the Equilibrate System.
abstract: This study evaluated the test-retest reliability of a novel computer-based, portable balance assessment tool, the Equilibrate System (ES), used to diagnose sports-related concussion. Twenty-seven students participated in ES testing consisting of three sessions over 4 weeks. The modified Balance Error Scoring System was performed. For each participant, test-retest reliability was established using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The ES test-retest reliability from baseline to week 2 produced an ICC value of 0.495 (95% CI, 0.123-0.745). Week 2 testing produced ICC values of 0.602 (95% CI, 0.279-0.803) and 0.610 (95% CI, 0.299-0.804), respectively. All other single measures test-retest reliability values produced poor ICC values. Same-day ES testing showed fair to good test-retest reliability while interweek measures displayed poor to fair test-retest reliability. Testing conditions should be controlled when using computerized balance assessment methods. ES testing should only be used as a part of a comprehensive assessment.
authors: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee.
authors: Mitchell J
authors: MJ
authors: Odom
authors: Young M
authors: YM
authors: Lee
authors: Scott L
authors: SL
authors: Zuckerman
authors: Rachel P
authors: RP
authors: Apple
authors: Theodore
authors: T
authors: Germanos
authors: Gary S
authors: GS
authors: Solomon
authors: Allen K
authors: AK
authors: Sills
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult