Evaluation of Changes in Pelvic Belt Tension During 2 Weight-Bearing Functional Tasks

ObjectiveThe purposes of this study were to evaluate changes in pelvic belt tension during 2 weight-bearing functional tasks (transition from bipedal to unipedal stance [BUS] and walking) and to evaluate the reliability and the percentage variation for belt tension scores from trial to trial.MethodsA cross-sectional repeated-measures study was conducted with 10 healthy male participants (mean age, 28.3 ± 8.8 years). Participants performed 10 trials of BUS and walking while wearing a nonelastic pelvic compression belt (PCB) applied distal to the anterior superior iliac spines, with a load cell positioned in the center of the belt. The load cell was calibrated using known weights (1-10 kg) to define the relationship between the applied tension and voltage change (R2 = 0.99). Load cell tension values were recorded in voltage signals and then converted to newtons of force using appropriate conversion values (0.012 V = 10 N). Mean and standard deviation values, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC 3,1), and percentage standard error of measurements (% SEM) were analyzed for PCB tension recorded during the BUS and walking trials.ResultsThe mean tension achieved with a PCB was found to be 41.02 (± 4.23) N during BUS and 44.07 (± 5.80) N during walking. The trial-to-trial reliability (ICC 3,1) was high (ICC ≥ 0.9), and the variation in PCB tension across 10 trials (% SEM) was 4% or less.ConclusionThe mean tension achieved during the tasks was 44 N or less. The reliability is high, and the variation is low across the trials, which implies that a PCB could be used to produce consistent effects during repetition of the tasks (BUS and walking).