Article

OBJECTIVE: To examine the contribution of balance ability, muscle strength, and
exercise endurance to performance in the timed-sit-to-stand test among chronic
hemiparetic subjects. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study with 68 community-dwelling
stroke survivors. RESULTS: By using Pearson correlation coefficient, the
five-times-sit-to-stand (FTSTS) test scores showed the highest negative
correlation with Berg Balance Scale scores (r = -0.837, P < 0.001), and it showed
significant moderate correlation with muscle strength index (r = -0.577, P <
0.001) and distance covered in a 6-min walk test (r = -0.598, P < 0.001). After
controlling for demographic factors, significant partial correlation was
identified between FTSTS scores and Berg Balance Scale scores only (r = -0.630, P
< 0.001). Linear regression model, after accounting for demographics and
subjective balance confidence, showed that FTSTS scores were independently
associated with Berg Balance Scale scores (beta = -0.630, P < 0.001), whereas
muscle strength index and distance covered in the 6-min walk test were not
significant predictors of FTSTS scores. The whole model could explain 71% of the
variance in FTSTS scores. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study documenting the
importance of balance ability, not muscle strength and exercise endurance, as an
important determinant of performance on the FTSTS test by community-dwelling
stroke patients. These findings suggest that the FTSTS test may be a more
appropriate proxy indicator of balance performance in chronic community-dwelling
stroke subjects.

Langue : ANGLAIS