Investigating the test-retest reliability of Illinois Agility Test for wheelchair users

Eleven able-bodied participants performed few trials of Illinois Agility Test (IAT) in two sessions of experiment. ICC was found for sixteen biomechanical variables that were measured throughout the IAT path. Also, thirty-seven other clinically-important propulsion parameters were found and compared between the two sessions using MANOVA. Results showed that ICC was very strong for fifteen variables, with the total average of 89%. Additionally, MANOVA tests showed no significant difference between IAT performed in the two sessions. The results of this study provide sufficient evidence that IAT is a reliable tool to test wheelchair agility for most of the biomechanical variables for non-wheelchair-users. Since experienced wheelchair users are more consistent in wheelchair propulsion, we can deduce that IAT could be used as a reliable tool to assess and train wheelchair users for clinical and athletic applications.