Validity of the test–table–test for Nordic skiing for classification of paralympic sit-ski sports participants

Abstract

Study design: Cross-sectional study. Objectives: To assess the interrater reliability and validity of the test-table-test (TTT) with which paralympic sports participants involved in Nordic sit-ski sports may be classified. Setting: Movement laboratory in a rehabilitation centre, The Netherlands. Methods: Thirty-three persons with a spinal cord injury caudally to Th2, a leg amputation, poliomyelitis affecting the trunk and/or lower extremities, or cerebral palsy participated. Subjects were classified according to a classification system for Nordic skiing (that is, five subclasses between LW10 and LW12) by two raters, involving, among others, a combination of four balance tests called TTT. The validity of the TTT was investigated using a gold standard, involving balance perturbation tests on a force plate and centre of pressure (CoP) displacement measurements. Results: As for the interrater reliability, Spearman's rank-correlation coefficient was 0.95 (Po0.001). As regards the validity of the TTT, correlation coefficients ranging from 0.61 to 0.74 (Po0.001) were found when comparing the data with the gold standard. Conclusion: Interrater reliability was high in both scoring and classification. With regard to TTT validity, strong positive correlations between CoP displacement and TTT classification were found. Overall, the results of this study show that the TTT is a reliable and valid test. However, the relations between TTT and CoP displacement in the LW10 and LW10.5 subclasses found in this study are somewhat vague, which could be due to the small number of participants in these subclasses. For the LW10 and LW10.5 subclasses further refinement of the four tests within the TTT is warranted.

Diagnostic accuracy of common clinical tests for assessing abdominal muscle function after motor-complete spinal cord injury above T6

“…[5][6][7] Although manual examination of abdominal musculature is not currently used within the ISNCSCI, it has been incorporated into classification of trunk function for paralympic athletes such as in wheelchair rugby 8 and Nordic skiing. 9 During this classification procedure, athletes are asked to perform different trunk function tasks while the classifier observes the performance and/or palpates the appropriate trunk muscles. The reason for using different trunk tasks is that they each involve unique combinations of abdominal muscle activity to move the trunk into a new orientation or stabilize the spine.…”

Correlations between Biomechanical Characteristics, Physical Characteristics, and the Ability to Maintain Dynamic Sitting Balance on an Unstable Surface in the Disabled with Spinal Cord Injury

“…Especially, the trunk stability of disabled people shows instability, unlike general public, and thus, it needs to be essentially evaluated in sports activity. Sitting balance is closely related with trunk stability, and winter sports for disabled people test the ability of sitting balance in consideration of such a relationship (Pernot et al, 2011). The higher spinal …”

“…Sitting balance ability test was evaluated by revising/modifying the test-table-test, the sit ski disability grade standard test (Pernot et al, 2011). Existing tests were measured on the stable surface, and 45° forward and backward tilt was possible, but the risk of an accident is huge on the unstable surface; therefore, the standard angles were revised to be forward 30° and backward 10° (Table 1).…”

“…The total of the four balance function test performance scores was used as sitting balance ability score (Pernot et al, 2011).…”

“…The study of Pernot (2011) is the only study on sitting balance in relation with sitting skiing, and he reported static sitting balance and body center. However, sitting skiing is closely associated with dynamic balance using upper extremity and trunk, but such a study is still insufficient.…”