Test-retest reliability of the functional rotation test in healthy adults

Test-retest reliability and concurrent validity for a Functional Rotation Test, developed as a clinical tool for quantifying the extent of body rotation while sitting or standing, were evaluated with healthy adults in this study. Participants, ages 20 to 72 years (n=36) donned laser-pointing devices, stood or sat in the center of a room calibrated for the test, and actively turned and pointed to the right (or left) as far as they could comfortably. The locations of the lasers were recorded and subsequently scored. Testing was repeated after a brief rest. Concurrent measurements between a clinical goniometer and the Functional Rotation Test were also compared. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) indicated good to excellent test-retest reliability indices, ranging from .89 to .96 for standing and .87 to .95 for sitting tests. Agreement between the Functional Rotation Test and the goniometer was excellent (ICC = 1.0). The relevance and possible applications of the Functional Rotation Test are discussed.