Article

OBJECTIVES: To investigate: (i) the intra-rater, inter-rater and test-retest
reliabilities of completion times and step counts on the Standardized Walking
Obstacle Course test (SWOC); (ii) correlations between SWOC scores and
stroke-specific impairments; (iii) the cut-off SWOC completion times and step
counts for distinguishing differences in obstacle negotiation ability in people
with chronic stroke and healthy older adults. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.
SETTING: University-based rehabilitation centre.
SUBJECTS: Twenty-nine people
with stroke and 30 healthy older adults. METHODS: SWOC completion times and step
counts were measured under 3 conditions: (i) normal walking; (ii) walking with a
tray; and (iii) walking with dark-glasses. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment of lower
extremity, the Five-Times-Sit-to-Stand Test, the Berg Balance Scale, the Timed Up
and Go Test (TUG), and the Community Integration Measure questionnaire, were also
administered. RESULTS: SWOC completion times and step counts showed very
satisfactory to excellent reliabilities (intraclass correlation coefficient; ICC
= 0.851-0.993). TUG times correlated significantly with SWOC completion times and
step counts under the 3 conditions (r = 0.586-0.815, p < 0.001). SWOC completion
times of 14.73-16.00 s and step counts of 23.06-24.13, depending on different
walking conditions, were able to discriminate between stroke survivors and
healthy older adults. CONCLUSION: The SWOC is a reliable clinical tool for
assessing obstacle negotiation ability in people with stroke.

Langue : ANGLAIS