Reliability and Normative Value of Single Heel-rise Test in School-going Children

Background:

Single heel-rise test (SHRT) is a method of assessing the strength and endurance of plantar-flexors manually. Single heel-rise test also known as calf rise test, is a method of assessing the strength of plantar-flexor. The test was first done to determine the integrity of calf muscle. There are few studies which has established the reliability and normative value of heel-rise test in adults. But till date, there is no documented evidence of normative value of heel-rise test in children.

Aim:

The study is focused to derive reliability and normative value of single heel-rise test in children of age group 8-12 years.

Methods:

The study will recruit healthy school-going children of 8-12 years age. Any pathology which can limit or interfere with the test outcome will be excluded. The samples will be collected by stratified sampling technique. Procedure of test will be demonstrated prior to the test. Heel raising and lowering will be performed until child feels fatigue. Test will be performed on both the lower extremities individually.

Data analysis:

Test will be assessed on both the heel individually. Three sessions will be conducted by the same rater on same child for intra-rater and test-retest reliability, and another rater will assess the test on same individual for establishing inter-rater reliability. Normative value of the test will be determined by deriving the mean of test-values for each age group.