Article

OBJECTIVE: To determine the test-retest reliability of the Sensory Organization
Test (SOT) in older persons with a unilateral transtibial amputation. DESIGN:
Cross-sectional observational study with repeated measures. SETTING: A University
balance laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Fifteen participants (12 men and 3 women) who
had undergone a unilateral transtibial amputation that was performed as a result
of either trauma or complications of diabetes or peripheral vascular disease were
recruited from a patient database. The mean age of the participants was 69.53
years (SD, 6.60), with 11.94 mean years of prosthetic use. INTERVENTION: All
participants completed 3 trials of the 6 balance testing conditions in the
standard SOT protocol with use of the NeuroCom SMART Equitest system on 2
occasions approximately 2 weeks apart. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Reliability of the
mean equilibrium and strategy scores for the 6 SOT conditions and the overall
composite score was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients. RESULTS:
The test-retest reliability coefficients (intraclass correlation coefficient
model 2,1) for the equilibrium scores ranged from 0.67-0.90 for conditions 1 to 4
and 6, indicating fair-to-good reliability. The coefficients obtained for the
strategy scores of all the conditions and the composite score showed excellent
reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients >0.75). CONCLUSIONS: This study
suggests that the majority of outcome measurements associated with the SOT
protocol on the SMART Equitest provide a reliable measure of dynamic balance
performance in older persons with a unilateral transtibial amputation, even in
the presence of comorbidities. The equilibrium, strategy, and composite scores
obtained from the testing protocol with the exception of condition 5, can be used
reliably in clinical practice to monitor for changes in balance with
rehabilitation or to monitor the effects of a specific intervention and/or in
patients with comorbidities that could potentially affect their balance
capacities.
CI - Copyright (c) 2011 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS