THE TEST-RETEST RELIABILITY OF AN INCLINED SQUAT STRENGTH TEST PROTOCOL

Functional testing of the lower extremity is supported as a good predi ctor for successful return to premorbid activity. However, current rel iable functional tests may be too strenuous for a patient in title acu te stage of recovery. A functional testing protocol utilizing an incli ned sliding board apparatus was evaluated for test-retest reliability Thirty-five subjects (ages = 18-25, (X) over bar = 20.49 +/- 1.71) wit h no known knee pathologies were tested Subjects performed a 20-second test for squat repetitions and a 50-squat repetition test for time, e xecuting a single leg squat in an inclined position on the sliding boa rd apparatus. The test was repeated 1 week later. The intraclass corre lation coefficient equaled 0.80 for the 50-repetition limed test and 0 .89 for the 20-second repetition test. The results indicate an accepta ble test-retest reliability for the inclined sliding board apparatus p rotocol. We advocate the use oi this testing protocol for the purpose of evaluating functional ability during the early stages of rehabilita tion of lower extremity conditions.