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Affiliation
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Research Assistant, Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA. |
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Abstract
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Study Design Repeated measures, clinical measurement reliability study.
OBJECTIVEs To establish the reliability and face validity of the Functional Lower Extremity Evaluation (FLEE). Background The FLEE is a 45-minute battery of 8 standardized functional performance tests that measures 3 components of lower extremity function: control, power, and endurance. The reliability and normative values for FLEE for healthy athletes is unknown.
METHODS A face validity survey for FLEE was sent to sports medicine personnel to evaluate the level of importance and frequency of clinical usage of each test included in FLEE. The FLEE was then administered and rated for 40 uninjured athletes. To assess test-retest reliability, each athlete was tested twice, one week apart by the same rater. To assess inter-rater reliability, 3 raters scored each athlete during one of the testing sessions to determine inter-rater reliability. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to assess the test-retest and inter-rater reliability of each of the FLEE tests.
RESULTS In the face validity survey, FLEE tasks were rated as highly important by 58-71% of respondents, but frequently used by only 26-45% respondents. Inter-rater reliability ICCs ranged from 0.83 to 1.00 and test-retest reliability ranged from 0.71 to 0.95.
CONCLUSION FLEE tests are considered clinically important for assessing lower extremity function by sports medicine personnel, but are are underused. FLEE also is a reliable assessment tool. Future studies are required to determine if the use of FLEE in making return to play decisions reduces re-injury rates. Level of Evidence Therapy, Level 3. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther, Epub 13 November 2014. doi:10.2519/jospt.2014.4809.
Language: en |