Article

OBJECTIVES: To investigate (1) the intra-rater, inter-rater and test-retest
reliabilities of the Figure-of-Eight Walk (F8W) test times; (2) its correlation
with other stroke-specific impairments; and (3) the cut-off scores best
discriminating patients with stroke from the healthy elderly. DESIGN:
Cross-sectional study. SETTING: University-based rehabilitation centre.
PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 64 subjects: 35 subjects with chronic
stroke and 29 healthy elderly. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: F8W test times, Fugl-Meyer
Motor Assessment for the lower extremities (FMA-LE), hand-held dynamometer
measurements of bilateral hip abductor and knee extensor isometric muscle
strength, Five times Sit to Stand Test (FTSTST) times, 10-Meter Walk Test
(10MWT), Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT) times, Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and
Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) scores. RESULTS: Excellent
intra-rater, inter-rater and test-retest reliabilities (intra-class correlation
coefficient (ICC) range 0.944-0.999) of F8W test times were found. The F8W test
times were also found to be significantly associated with FMA-LE, BBS, FTSTST,
TUG scores and 10MWT. No significant correlation was found between F8W test times
and either leg strength or ABC results. A F8W test time of 8.2 s was found to be
the most representative for discriminating between healthy elderly and stroke
subjects, with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 89.7%. CONCLUSIONS: The
F8W test time is a reliable measurement tool, which is able to differentiate the
patients with stroke and healthy elderly subjects and correlated well with
stroke-specific impairments and walking tests. The F8W is a reliable measurement
tool for assessing the advanced walking performance of subjects with chronic
stroke. Implication for Rehabilitation The F8W test times have excellent
intra-rater, inter-rater and test-retest reliabilities in patients with chronic
stroke. The F8W test times were also found to be significantly associated with
FMA-LE, BBS, FTSTST, TUG scores and 10MWT. A F8W test time of 8.2 s was found to
be the most representative for discriminating between healthy elderly and stroke
subjects, with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 89.7%. The F8W test
time is a reliable and valid measure in assessing the advanced walking skill in
patients with stroke.

Langue : ANGLAIS