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A novel assessment for Readiness Evaluation during Simulated Dismounted Operations: A reliability study
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

A novel assessment for Readiness Evaluation during Simulated Dismounted Operations: A reliability study

Christopher A. Rabago, Riley C. Sheehan, Kelly A. Schmidtbauer, Michael C. Vernon and Jason M. Wilken
PloS one, Vol.14(12), pp.e0226386-e0226386
12/30/2019
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226386
PMCID: PMC6936885
PMID: 31887147
url
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0226386View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Objective To determine the intersession reliability of the Readiness Evaluation during Simulated Dismounted Operations (REDOp), a novel ecologically-based assessment for injured Service Members, provide minimal detectable change values, and normative reference range values. To evaluate the ability to differentiate performance limitations between able-bodied and injured individuals using the REDOp. Design Repeated measures design and between group comparison. Setting Outpatient rehabilitative care setting. Participants Service Members who were able-bodied (n = 32) or sustained a traumatic lower extremity injury (n = 22). Interventions During the REDOp, individuals walked over variable terrain as speed and incline progressively increased; they engaged targets; and carried military gear. Main outcome measures Endurance measured using total distance traveled; walking stability measured using range of full-body angular momentum; and shooting accuracy, precision, reaction time and acquisition time. Results Intersession reliability analyses were conducted on a sub-group of 18 able-bodied Service Members. Interclass correlation coefficient values were calculated for distance traveled (0.91), range of angular momentum about three axes (0.78-0.93), shooting accuracy (0.61), precision (0.47), reaction time (0.21), and acquisition time (0.77). Service Members with lower extremity injury demonstrated significantly less distance traveled with a median distance of 0.89 km compared to 2.73 km for the able-bodied group (p < 0.001). Service Members with lower extremity injury demonstrated significantly less stability in the frontal and sagittal planes than the able-bodied group (p < 0.001). The primary performance limiter was endurance followed by pain for both groups. There was no evidence of ceiling effects. Conclusions The REDOp is a highly reliable, military-relevant assessment that can be used to measure performance and identify deficits across the domains of activity tolerance, gait stability, and shooting performance.
Multidisciplinary Sciences Science & Technology Science & Technology - Other Topics

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