Abstract
Although gaining popularity in sports physical therapy, few data exist as to the reliability of functional tests for the lower extremity; neither has “normal” right-left symmetry been established. Therefore, the threefold purpose of this study was to (1) describe five common and relatively simple functional tests, (2) investigate the reliability of these tests, and (3) determine the differences in the ability of the right and left limb to perform these functional tests. Testing of these five functional tests was performed three times across a 3-week period using standardized procedures for four different samples, with each sample performing a different functional test. Eighteen volunteers completed the one-legged horizontal hop test, 16 subjects participated in the one-legged vertical hop, and 18 subjects completed the timed one-legged hop test. One sample of 22 subjects participated in both the one-legged triple-hop test and the one-legged cross-over hop test. Results indicated right-left differences of all five functional tests to be less than 1% and reliability correlation coefficients ranged from 0.85 to 0.94. Given the reliability coefficients obtained and the absence of clinically important right-left differences, the data collected from this study suggest that functional tests have the potential to be a valuable adjunct in the assessment of the athlete after injury.