Affiliations: [a] Núcleo de Investigación en Salud, Actividad Física y Deporte ISAFYD, Universidad de Las Américas, Viña del Mar, Chile | [b] Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Las Américas, Viña Del Mar, Chile | [c] Facultad de Salud y Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Las Américas, Viña del Mar, Chile | [d] Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Las Américas, Viña Del Mar, Chile
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Álvaro Huerta Ojeda, Avenida 7 Norte 1348, Viña del Mar, 2531098, Chile. E-mail: achuertao@yahoo.es.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Isometric maximal voluntary force (IMVF) is essential for individuals’ health and physical performance. Therefore, there is a need for valid and reliable devices to assess IMVF. OBJECTIVE: To determine the validity and reliability of the Valkyria Trainer Balance® portable force platform in its isometric mode. METHODS: Fifty-eight physically healthy individuals (30 men and 28 women) participated in the study. A repeated measures design was used to compare the inter-day test-retest reliability of peak force. The validity of the Valkyria Trainer Balance® force platform was determined by comparing the peak force with the ArtOficio® force platform. The analysis consisted of the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and coefficient of variation (CV). A CV ⩽ 10% and ICC ⩾ 0.80 were considered acceptable reliability, while a ⩽ 5% and ICC ⩾ 0.90 were regarded as high reliability. RESULTS: CV the peak force showed high test-retest inter-day reliability (CV = 4.3% and ICC = 0.99). When comparing both force platforms, there was a 1.1% difference between the two devices. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrate that the Valkyria Trainer Balance® force platform is valid and reliable for assessing IMVF in physically healthy individuals.
Keywords: Validation study, reproducibility of results, equipment and supplies, muscle contraction
