Sway Balance Mobile Application: Reliability, Acclimation, and Baseline Administration. Clin J Sport Med 2020 Sep;30(5):451-457
Date
06/29/2018Pubmed ID
29952841DOI
10.1097/JSM.0000000000000626Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85073815941 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 8 CitationsAbstract
OBJECTIVES: To describe historic baseline session administration practices, to assess the utility of a practice trial (an acclimation trial) before the official balance session, and to examine the within-session reliability of the Sway Balance Mobile Application (SBMA).
DESIGN: Retrospective observational study.
SETTING: Middle schools, high schools, and colleges across the United States.
PARTICIPANTS: More than 17 000 student-athletes were included in the Sway Medical database with 7968 individuals meeting this study's inclusion criteria.
INDEPENDENT VARIABLES: The Sway Medical database included the following subject characteristics for each student-athlete: age, sex, weight, and height.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Balance assessment score generated by the SBMA.
RESULTS: Variable administration practices with significant differences between baseline session averages across methods were found. Individuals who performed an acclimation trial had a significantly higher baseline session average than those who did not. Within-session reliability estimates were in the low to adequate range (r = 0.53-0.78), with higher estimates found for 2 consecutive baseline tests (r = 0.75-0.78).
CONCLUSIONS: For maximum clinical utility, a standardized protocol for postural control baseline acquisition is necessary. Acclimation trial should be administered before a baseline session to minimize variability, especially with only 1 to 2 baseline tests. The highest reliability was observed across 2 consecutive baseline tests within the same baseline session. We suggest obtaining baseline balance measurements with an acclimation trial followed by a baseline session with 2 baseline tests. Prospective studies are required for validation.
Author List
Mummareddy N, Brett BL, Yengo-Kahn AM, Solomon GS, Zuckerman SLAuthor
Benjamin Brett PhD Assistant Professor in the Neurosurgery department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Adaptation, PhysiologicalAdolescent
Age Factors
Analysis of Variance
Athletes
Body Mass Index
Body Weight
Child
Databases, Factual
Female
Humans
Male
Mobile Applications
Postural Balance
Reproducibility of Results
Retrospective Studies
Students
United States
Young Adult
