Abstract
The reliability of a portable computer based system (Motor Task Manager; MTM) used for the assessment of motor dysfunction needs to be assessed before being used clinically. Nine healthy males, aged 24–55 years (mean = 31.4, SD ± 9.84) performed three unilateral MTM-prescribed reaching task paradigms. Tasks were completed three times in random order during three separate testing sessions. Speed characteristics showed excellent (Intra-class correlation coefficient; ICC 0.78–0.92) and inter-session (ICC 0.86–0.92) reliability for all three tasks. Temporal parameters had fair to good reliability in the first session (ICC 0.42–0.78) which improved in sessions 2 and 3 (ICC 0.64–0.96). Inter-session reliability for temporal characteristics was better for movement time (ICC 0.57–0.84) than onset time (ICC 0.14–0.53). Spatial characteristics demonstrated poor intra- (ICC −0.09–0.63) and inter-sessions (ICC 0.15–0.61) reliability. Speed characteristics were the most robust results for the healthy population studied and recommended for measuring performance, particularly if only one test session is possible.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the participants for their time and Regione Liguria (Italy), DOCUP 2000–2006, Misura 1.4b for financial support for the project.