Article

OBJECTIVES: To establish (1) the intrarater and interrater reliabilities of step
test (ST) scores in subjects with chronic stroke, (2) the ST's known-groups
validity and cutoff scores for distinguishing subjects with chronic stroke from
healthy adults older than 50 years, and (3) the convergent validity of ST scores
with lower-limb muscle strength, coordination, balance performance, and walking
speed. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: University-based rehabilitation
center. PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of subjects (N=30): community-dwelling
subjects with chronic stroke (n=15) and healthy adults older than 50 years
(n=15). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ST scores; handheld
dynamometer measurements of bilateral lower-limb muscle strength; lower-extremity
motor coordination test (LEMOCOT) scores; Berg Balance Scale scores; walking
speed as measured by a 5-meter walk test. RESULTS: ST scores showed excellent
intrarater reliability, with intraclass correlation coefficients ranging from
.981 to .995 and interrater reliability ranging from .996 to .999. A cutoff score
of 13 on the paretic side was found to distinguish the healthy adults older than
50 years from subjects with stroke at a sensitivity of 87% and a specificity of
87%. A cutoff score of 11 on the nonparetic side was found to distinguish the
healthy adults from subjects with stroke at a sensitivity of 100% and a
specificity of 67%. ST scores of the paretic limb demonstrated a significant
correlation with muscle strength, the LEMOCOT scores of the paretic leg, and
walking speed. ST scores of the nonparetic limb demonstrated a significant
correlation with muscle strength and the LEMOCOT scores of the paretic leg.
CONCLUSIONS: The ST is a reliable measurement tool when the number of steps is
counted by either experienced or inexperienced examiners by viewing videotapes.
ST scores with both the paretic limb and the nonparetic limb are sensitive in
distinguishing subjects with chronic stroke from healthy adults older than 50
years.
CI - Copyright (c) 2012 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS