Reliability of enhanced paper grip test for testing foot strength in volleyball and soccer players.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the reliability of the Enhanced Paper Grip Test (EPGT) for assessing foot strength in volleyball and soccer players. DESIGN: A cross-sectional observational study with repeated measurements. SETTING: Field-based study. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 28 athletes (13 volleyball players and 15 soccer players) participated in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome measures were the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for intra-visit and inter-visit reliability, typical error, and coefficient of variation for the force (N) recorded in EPGT test. RESULTS: The EPGT demonstrated good to excellent relative reliability (ICC values ranged from 0.93 to 0.97) and acceptable absolute reliability (typical error = 5-8 % of the mean). Significant inter-limb asymmetries were observed in both volleyball (16.0 ± 10.2%) and soccer players (15.3 ± 9.8%). CONCLUSIONS: The EPGT is a reliable tool for assessing foot strength in volleyball and soccer players. Further research is required to explore the applicability of EPGT in different athletic and clinical contexts, and its potential role in athletic performance and injury prevention.