OBJECTIVE: This study reviewed the reliability of proprioception measurement methods for lower limb joints in older adults to assess their clinical applicability for fall risk assessments.
DATA SOURCES: A comprehensive search of PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and Web of Science was conducted from inception until August 15, 2024.
STUDY SELECTION: The search utilized keywords, such as "elderly," "proprioception," and "reliability," yielding 344 studies. After removing duplicates and irrelevant studies, five studies met the inclusion criteria, focusing on proprioception measurements for adults aged 50 and older using Joint Position Sense (JPS), Active Movement Extent Discrimination Apparatus (AMEDA), and Threshold to Detection of Passive Motion (TTDPM).
DATA EXTRACTION: Two reviewers assessed the studies using the COSMIN Risk of Bias tool, evaluating quality based on measurement conditions, assessor characteristics, and statistical methods. Disagreements were resolved using a third reviewer.
DATA SYNTHESIS: Five studies were included, comprising 456 participants aged 25 to 85 years. The intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from .11 to .93, .00 to .93, and .44 to .88 for hip, knee, and ankle joints, respectively. The factors affecting reliability included test complexity and cognitive demands.
CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review analyzed proprioception measurement methods for lower limb joints, focusing on the hip, knee, and ankle. The review revealed variability in reliability across joints and assessment tools.