Reliability and Usefulness of an Eye - Foot Reaction Time Test in Female University Basketball Athletes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the intra- and interset absolute and relative reliability of an eye–foot reaction time test. It also aimed to establish test usefulness. Nineteen (19) university female basketball athletes participated in the study. They performed a standardized warmup and 2 sets of eye–foot reaction time test on both limbs with each set consisting of 3 trials randomly interspersed within 30 seconds. Intra- and interset interval was set at 15 seconds. Typical error (TE), typical error as percentage of coefficient of variation (%CV), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and smallest worthwhile change (SWC) were computed. For set 1, right foot showed TE = .037, %CV = 8.90, ICC = 0.45, and SWC = .009. Left foot posted TE = .035, %CV = 8.90, ICC = 0.56, and SWC = .010. For set 2, right foot TE = .021, %CV = 8.90, ICC = 0.74, and SWC = .008. Left foot demonstrated TE = .024, %CV = 6.40, and SWC = .008. For interset values, it was seen that right foot showed TE = .010, %CV = 2.60, ICC = 0.93, and SWC = .007. Left foot showed TE = .026, %CV = 6.60, ICC = 0.60, and SWC = .008. In conclusion, right foot and left foot intraset absolute reliabilities were “good” for set 1 and set 2. However, relative reliability was “poor” for both limbs at both sets. Similarly, test usefulness was marginal for right foot and left foot at set 1 and set 2. In contrast, interset absolute reliability was “good” for the right foot and left foot. Relative reliability was “good” for the right leg but “poor” for the left leg. Eye–foot reaction time test is somehow reliable for the right leg but marginal for the left leg.