Establishing Test–Retest Reliability and Reliable Change for the King–Devick Test in High School Athletes

Objective: To establish test–retest reliability in nonconcussed high school athletes and compare absolute change, reliable change indices (RCIs), and minimal detectable change (MDC) methods for classifying impairment after sport-related concussion. Design: Prospective, repeated measures. Setting: High schools from the Midwest and Central regions of the United States. Participants: A convenience sample of 772 nonconcussed high school athletes (n = 546 men) completed preseason K–D testing. In addition, 69 athletes completed a second postseason K–D test, and 54 athletes sustained a concussion and completed postconcussion K–D tests. Intervention: K–D test. Main Outcome Measures: Data for age, sex, and concussion history were determined using preseason K–D test outcomes. Test–retest reliability, RCIs, and MDCs were calculated using postseason K–D tests (M = 98.9, SD = 9.1 days). Postinjury K–D assessments within 5 days of injury (M = 1.5, SD = 1.5 days) were used to classify impairment on K–D using absolute change, RCI, and MDC methods. Results: Significant effects for age (P
Source: Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine - Category: Sports Medicine Tags: Original Research Source Type: research