Reliability of the five-repetition sit-to-stand test in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on domiciliary oxygen therapy

Test-Retest Reliability of Functional Electromechanical Dynamometer on Five Sit-to-Stand Measures in Healthy Young Adults

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability for the strength and movement velocity of the concentric phase from the five Sit-to-Stand (5STS), using three incremental loads measured by a functional electromechanical dynamometer (FEMD) in healthy young adults. Methods: The average and peak strength and velocity values of sixteen healthy adults (mean ± standard deviation (SD): age = 22.81 ± 2.13 years) were recorded at 5, 10 and 15 kg. To evaluate the reliability of FEMD, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM) and coefficient of variation (CV) were obtained. Results: Reliability was high for the 10 kg (CV range: 3.70–4.18%, ICC range: 0.95–0.98) and 15 kg conditions (CV range: 1.64–3.02%, ICC: 0.99) at average and peak strength, and reliability was high for the 5 kg (CV range: 1.71–2.84%, ICC range: 0.96–0.99), 10 kg (CV range: 0.74–1.84%, ICC range: 0.99–1.00) and 15 kg conditions (CV range: 0.79–3.11%, ICC range: 0.99–1.00) at average and peak velocity. Conclusions: The findings of this study demonstrate that FEMD is a reliable instrument to measure the average and peak strength and velocity values during the five STS in healthy young adults.

Reliability and validity of the Upper Limb Functional Test (ULIFT) for women after breast cancer surgery

PURPOSE

To evaluate the reliability and convergent validity of the Upper Limb Functional Test (ULIFT) in women after breast cancer surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study with 25 women (mean age 50 ± 7.3 years) with breast cancer submitted to a surgery intervention within a minimum period of three years. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated to assess the test-retest reliability. A Bland-Altman plot examined the agreement between the times to complete two tests. Validity was established by correlating the ULIFT and DASH total score. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the cut-off point for ULIFT in order to discriminate patients with some level of upper limb dysfunction.

RESULTS

The ULIFT showed high reproducibility (ICC = 0.89; p < 0.001), learning effect of 7.21%, and a moderate correlation with the DASH total score (r = 0.536; R² = 0.28; p = 0.006). The standard error of measurement was 6.9 s and the smallest real difference was 19.1 s. The ROC curve indicated a cut-off point of 109.2 s (sensitivity = 68.7%; specificity = 77.8%; area under ROC curve = 0.77).

CONCLUSIONS

The ULIFT could be a valid and reliable test to assess upper limb functionality in patients submitted to breast cancer surgery.Implications for rehabilitationThe ULIFT is a reliable and valid test to assess upper limb function in women after breast cancer surgery, considering specifically the lifting and range of motion construct of unilateral upper limb function.The ULIFT could help identify those most at risk of developing upper limb dysfunction after breast cancer surgery and could benefit the follow-up of a postoperative rehabilitation program.Two ULIFTs should be performed in order to achieve patient's best performance.

The test-retest reliability and concurrent validity of the five times sit to stand test and step test in older adults with total hip arthroplasty

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to determine the test-retest reliability and concurrent validity of the five times sit to stand test (FTST) and step test (ST) in older adults with total hip arthroplasty (THA).

METHODS

A cross-sectional and prospective study was carried out with 32 unilateral total hip arthroplasty patients. FTST, ST, and Timed Up & Go Test were evaluated at the first evaluation session. The test-retest reliability was evaluated by performing two repetitions of the FTST and ST. Besides, the functional status of the patients was evaluated with the Harris Hip Score (HHS). The test-retest reliability of the FTST and ST were assessed by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). In the concurrent validity analysis, the Pearson correlation coefficient was analyzed. In addition, the standard error of measurement (SEM₉₅) and minimal detectable change (MDC₉₅) values of the FTST and ST were also calculated.

RESULTS

The mean age of the participants was 75.4 ± 10.3 years. The ICC score of FTST, ST (right) and ST (left) were 0.987, 0.908 and 0.846, respectively. SEM₉₅ and MDC₉₅ values of the FTST were 1.05 and 2.91, respectively. FTST was correlated with both the HHS and TUG (r₁ = -0.522, r₂ = 0.730, p < 0.01). SEM₉₅ and MDC₉₅ values of the ST (right) were 0.37 and 1.02, respectively. SEM₉₅ and MDC₉₅ values of the ST (left) were 0.55 and 1.52, respectively. Also, ST (right) was only correlated with TUG (r = -0.654, p < 0.01). ST (right) were correlated with both the HHS and TUG (r₁ = 0.503, r₂ = -0.806, p < 0.01). The degree of correlations was strong.

CONCLUSION

The FTST and ST are valid and reliable performance tests in older adults with primary unilateral THA.

Performance-based clinical tests of balance and muscle strength used in young seniors: a systematic literature review

BACKGROUND

Many balance and strength tests exist that have been designed for older seniors, often aged ≥70 years. To guide strategies for preventing functional decline, valid and reliable tests are needed to detect early signs of functional decline in young seniors. Currently, little is known about which tests are being used in young seniors and their methodological quality. This two-step review aims to 1) identify commonly used tests of balance and strength, and 2) evaluate their measurement properties in young seniors.

METHODS

First, a systematic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE to identify primary studies that employed performance-based tests of balance and muscle strength, and which aspects of balance and strength these tests assess in young seniors aged 60-70. Subsequently, for tests used in ≥3 studies, a second search was performed to identify method studies evaluating their measurement properties. The quality of included method studies was evaluated using the Consensus-based Standards for selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist.

RESULTS

Of 3454 articles identified, 295 met the inclusion criteria. For the first objective, 69 balance and 51 muscle strength tests were identified, with variations in administration mode and outcome reporting. Twenty-six balance tests and 15 muscle strength tests were used in ≥3 studies, with proactive balance tests and functional muscle power tests used most often. For the second objective, the search revealed 1880 method studies, of which nine studies (using 5 balance tests and 1 strength test) were included for quality assessment. The Timed Up and Go test was evaluated the most (4 studies), while the Community Balance and Mobility (CBM) scale was the second most assessed test (3 studies). For strength, one study assessed the reliability of the Five times sit-to-stand.

CONCLUSION

Commonly used balance and muscle strength tests in young seniors vary greatly with regards to administration mode and outcome reporting. Few studies have evaluated measurement properties of these tests when used in young seniors. There is a need for standardisation of existing tests to improve their informative value and comparability. For measuring balance, the CBM is a new and promising tool to detect even small balance deficits in balance in young seniors.