Reliability of ground reaction forces in the aquatic environment

• Published in: Journal of electromyography and kinesiology Vol. 30; pp. 23 - 30
• Main Authors: Barreto, Maria Simone Tavares, Bela, Laís Faganello Dela, Dias, Josilainne Marcelino, Pelegrinelli, Alexandre Roberto Marcondes, Campos, Renata Rosa de, Carvalho, Rodrigo Gustavo da Silva, Taglietti, Marcelo, Júnior, João Pedro Batista, Silva, Mariana Felipe, Olkoski, Mabel Micheline, Nogueira, Jéssyca Fernandes, Souza, Daniella Carneiro de, McVeigh, Joseph Gerald, Moura, Felipe Arruda, Facci, Ligia Maria, Cardoso, Jefferson Rosa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-10-2016
• Subjects: Aquatic exercise; Biomechanical Phenomena - physiology; Extremities; Female; Gait; Gait - physiology; Healthy Volunteers; Humans; Hydrotherapy; Hydrotherapy - methods; Kinetic; Kinetics; Male; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Myography - methods; Myography - standards; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Reliability; Reproducibility of Results; Swimming Pools; Walking - physiology; Young Adult; Hydrotherapy; Gait; Kinetic; Aquatic Exercise; Reliability; Aquatic exercise
• ISSN: 1050-6411; 1873-5711
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2016.05.002

Abstract The aim of this study was to verify the reliability of the kinetic parameters of gait using an underwater force platform. A total of 49 healthy participants with a median age of 21 years were included. The kinetic gait data were collected using a 0.6x0.6x0.1m aquatic force plate (Bertec®), set in a pool (15x13x1.30 m) with a water depth of 1.20 m and water temperature of 32.5 °C. Participants walked 10 meters before reaching the platform, which was fixed to the ground. Participants were instructed to step onto the platform with their preferred limb and data from three valid attempts were used to calculate the average values. A 48-hour interval between tests was used for the test-retest reliability. Data were analysed using interclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and results demonstrated that reliability ranged from poor to excellent, with ICC scores of between 0.24 and 0.87 and mean differences between ()=- 0.01 and 0.002. The highest reliability values were found for the vertical (Fz) and the lowest for the mediolateral components (Fy). In conclusion, the force platform is reliable for assessing the vertical and anteroposterior components of power production rates in water, however, caution should be applied when using this instrument to evaluate the mediolateral component in this environment.