An exploration of the relationship of the Modified Total Body Rotation Test with the Functional Reach Test, Lateral Reach Test and Centre of Pressure measures in healthy population

Background: With aging changes occur in the human body, which can lead to postural control alterations and falls; therefore it is important to have appropriate screening tools for physical performance changes. The Modified Total Body Rotation Test (MTBRT), which measures reach distance during rotation in a standing position, was first published as a flexibility test, although it might have abilities to indicate postural control problems. Aims: To explore MTBRT as a physical performance test by correlating it to the Functional reach test (FRT), Lateral reach Test (LRT) and Centre of pressure (COP) total excursion. To further investigate the relationship between measures the effect of height, height normalization and gender was examined. Methods: Correlational design was chosen to investigate MTBRT as a physical performance test. 20 healthy adults participated in the study, who performed MTBRT, FRT, LRT and quiet standing on a force platform. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was calculated from the data. Height normalization was applied to further investigate relationships between measures. Independent t-test and Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare gender groups. The level of significance was given as p˂0.05. Results: MTBRT was significantly correlated to LRT (r=0.609, p˂0.01). However, no significant relationship was found between MTBRT and FRT or MTBRT and COP measures (p˃0.05). MTBRT was significantly related to height (r=0.618, p˂0.01). After height normalization changes were found in the relationship between measures. There was no significant difference in reach distance between female and male participants (p˃0.05). Conclusion: The results indicate that MTBRT might measure the same component of postural control as LRT. Therefore, MTBRT can be a useful addition to clinically available screening tools. The relationship between MTBRT and height and the changes in the results after height normalization might indicate the benefits of height normalization throughout the interpretation of reach tests