BTrackS Balance Test for Concussion Management is Resistant to Practice Effects

Objective: Recent guidelines advocate for ongoing balance testing in the assessment of management of concussion injuries. This study sought to determine whether the Balance Tracking System (BTrackS) provides stable balance results over repeated administration and, thus, is a reliable tool for concussion management. Design: Repeated measures and test–retest reliability. Setting: University Biomechanics Laboratory. Participants: Random sample of 20 healthy young adults. Interventions: Force plate balance testing using BTrackS on days 1, 3, 8, and 15. Main Outcome Measures: Practice-induced changes in the average center of pressure excursion over 4 repeated administrations of the BTrackS Balance Test (BBT). Test–retest reliability of center of pressure excursion from day 1 to day 15. Results: No significant practice-induced balance differences were found across testing days (P > 0.4), and test–retest reliability of the BBT was excellent from day 1 to day 15 (R 0.92). Conclusions: These findings indicate that the BBT does not elicit a practice effect over repeat administrations. BTrackS provides excellent reliability and objectivity, which can increase clinician accuracy when monitoring sport-related concussions.

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