Test-retest Reliability of the Hip Abductor Endurance Test Depending on Two Different Uses of the Borg Scale

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to compare the test-retest reliability of the hip abductor isometric endurance test in healthy females when using the Borg scale in two different ways. In one group (group A), every 15 seconds and at the end of the test, the subject was asked to give an overall perception about how hard the exercise felt according to the Borg scale. In the other group (group B), the subject was asked to give an overall perception about how hard the exercise felt according to the Borg scale, but only at the end of the test. Method: Seventy-one healthy females (34 in group A and 37 in group B) were recruited. In two identical sessions, spaced by seven days, the participants performed the hip abductor isometric endurance test attended two identical assessment sessions. Results: Both groups demonstrated good test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.83 for group A and 0.77 for group B). The SEM was 11.7 seconds and the MDC, 32.4 seconds for group A. For group B, the SEM and the MDC were 14.6 and 40.4 seconds, respectively. Conclusions: These findings support the use of the Borg scale every 15 s and at the end of the hip abductor isometric endurance test in order to enhance the test-retest reliability.