Article

OBJECTIVES: To establish
(1) the intrarater and interrater reliability of Four
Square Step Test (FSST) times in persons with chronic stroke ; (2) the concurrent
validity of FSST times with standing balance and functional mobility measures ; and
(3) the FSST cutoff score for distinguishing the differences in dynamic
balance performance of persons with chronic stroke from healthy control adults.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: University-based rehabilitation center.
PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of subjects (N=30) consisting of
community-dwelling persons with chronic stroke (n=15) and healthy control adults
(n=15). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: FSST scores;
balance and functional mobility measured using Berg Balance Scale (BBS) scores;
Timed Up & Go (TUG) test scores; and limits of stability (LOS) measured by
dynamic posturography. RESULTS: FSST times showed good intrarater reliability,
with intraclass correlation coefficients ranging from .82 to .83 and an
interrater reliability >.99. An FSST cutoff score of 11 seconds was able to
discriminate between healthy adults older than 50 years and persons with stroke
(sensitivity, 73.3%; specificity, 93.3%). FSST times were correlated with LOS
scores for directional control in the backward direction (r=.64; P=.01). FSST was
approaching a significant correlation with TUG scores (r=.59; P=.02) and LOS
scores for endpoint excursion in the forward direction (r=-.58; P=.02). However,
there was no correlation with BBS scores. CONCLUSION: FSST is an
easy-to-administer clinical test with good intrarater and interrater reliability
in persons with chronic stroke to assess dynamic standing balance. FSST times of
11 seconds are able to differentiate between persons with chronic stroke and
healthy adults older than 50 years. The correlation of FSST times with standing
balance and functional mobility measures requires further research with a larger
sample size.
CI - Copyright (c) 2013 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS