Test-Retest Reliability of Functional Performance Tasks under Slosh Pipe Loading
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Presentation Type
Submission
Keywords
psychometric, postural control, balance, mobility, physical, young adults, water tube
Department
Sports Medicine
Major
Sports Medicine
Abstract
A slosh pipe, which is a large PVC pipe partially filled with water, is an innovative yet simple apparatus that can be utilized in resistance training and/or rehabilitative settings. Specifically, the ‘sloshing’ of the water within the pipe creates a dynamic and variable load which forces the user to constantly (a) work to maintain their balance as well as (b) engage their core/stabilizer muscles. However, adding a slosh pipe to a functional task may compromise the reliability of said scores as the sloshing of the water is inherently variable. Therefore, to track performance, it must be determined if functional task scores are resilient to the unpredictable nature of the slosh pipe across time. The purpose of this study was to investigate the test-retest properties of scores from university students who completed numerous functional tasks while carrying a slosh pipe. Thirty participants (Mage=21.1, SD=1.3; 50% women) completed five physical tests while a slosh pipe was loaded across their upper backs (Model: Slashpipe Monster, 8.4 kg, 11x150 cm). The battery of tasks was completed twice with a test-retest interval of seven days. The functional tasks that were performed were the 30-second quiet stand, the 360-degree turn test, the five-time sit-to-stand test, the timed up and go test, and the two-minute walk test. Various forms of absolute and relative test-retest reliability were calculated using RStudio (e.g., intraclass correlation coefficient models, numerous error estimates, Bland-Altman analyses, timepoint correlations, paired difference tests). Extensive test-retest findings and recommendations for each functional task will be described.
Faculty Mentor
Adam Pennell
Location
Black Family Plaza Classroom 189
Start Date
10-4-2026 3:00 PM
End Date
10-4-2026 3:15 PM
Test-Retest Reliability of Functional Performance Tasks under Slosh Pipe Loading
Black Family Plaza Classroom 189
A slosh pipe, which is a large PVC pipe partially filled with water, is an innovative yet simple apparatus that can be utilized in resistance training and/or rehabilitative settings. Specifically, the ‘sloshing’ of the water within the pipe creates a dynamic and variable load which forces the user to constantly (a) work to maintain their balance as well as (b) engage their core/stabilizer muscles. However, adding a slosh pipe to a functional task may compromise the reliability of said scores as the sloshing of the water is inherently variable. Therefore, to track performance, it must be determined if functional task scores are resilient to the unpredictable nature of the slosh pipe across time. The purpose of this study was to investigate the test-retest properties of scores from university students who completed numerous functional tasks while carrying a slosh pipe. Thirty participants (Mage=21.1, SD=1.3; 50% women) completed five physical tests while a slosh pipe was loaded across their upper backs (Model: Slashpipe Monster, 8.4 kg, 11x150 cm). The battery of tasks was completed twice with a test-retest interval of seven days. The functional tasks that were performed were the 30-second quiet stand, the 360-degree turn test, the five-time sit-to-stand test, the timed up and go test, and the two-minute walk test. Various forms of absolute and relative test-retest reliability were calculated using RStudio (e.g., intraclass correlation coefficient models, numerous error estimates, Bland-Altman analyses, timepoint correlations, paired difference tests). Extensive test-retest findings and recommendations for each functional task will be described.