Vol 17, Issue 1

Reliability of the Instrumented Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance Using a Virtual Balance Device

January 1, 2024 - By 

Authors

Sonia N. Young, Western Kentucky University
Elizabeth S. Norris, Western Kentucky University
Thomas Shifflett, Western Kentucky University
Daniel Nisbet, Western Kentucky University
Brady Saunders, Western Kentucky University
Caleb Driver, Western Kentucky University
International Journal of Exercise Science 17(1): 1183-1192, 2024.
DOI: 10.70252/AMXQ4966

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the test-retest reliability of the instrumented version of the modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance (i-mCTSIB) using the VirtuSense VirtuBalance System™ (VSTBalance), a virtual balance device, in healthy young adults. Fifty-four subjects aged 20–27 years (Mean age 23.07, SD ± 1.6), participated in the study. A one-group design was utilized. Three trials of the i-mCTSIB were performed on two separate days to measure the mean sway velocity of the trunk under four conditions. Within-day reliability of trials 1–3 was estimated with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC3,1) and between-day reliability was estimated using the averages of trials 1–3 on day 1 and day 2 (ICC3,3). Within-day reliability was moderate on day 1 (ICC = 0.511–0.672) and day 2 (ICC = 0.539 –0.677). Between-day reliability was moderate to good (ICC = 0.705–0.810). The lower bounds of the confidence intervals of within-day reliability estimates were 0.341–0.548, while the lower bounds of the confidence interval for the between-day reliability estimates were 0.390–0.671. Reliability of the VSTBalance for balance assessment using the i-mCTSIB test is moderate to good. Between-day reliability was higher than within-day reliability. When using the VSTBalance to assess balance with the i-mCTSIB, clinicians should provide practice of each condition contained in the test to improve reliability. The higher between-day reliability as compared to within-day reliability suggests that clinicians should use the averages of three trials when assessing balance performance change across time for each condition of the i-mCTSIB test when assessing balance using the VSTBalance.

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