Article

OBJECTIVE: (i) To investigate the intra-rater, inter-rater and test-retest
reliability and minimal detectable change of the Alternate Step Test (AST) when
assessing people with chronic stroke. (ii) To quantify the correlation between
AST times and stroke-specific impairments. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.
SETTING: University-based rehabilitation centre. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience
sample of 86 participants: 45 with chronic stroke, and 41 healthy elderly
subjects. METHODS: The AST was administered along with the Fugl-Meyer Lower
Extremity Assessment (FMA-LE), the Five Times Sit-To-Stand Test (FTSTS), limits
of stability (LOS) measurements, Berg Balance Scale (BBS) scores,
Chinese-translated Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC-C) ratings,
and the Timed "Up and Go" test (TUG). RESULTS: Excellent intra-rater, inter-rater
and test-retest reliability were found, with a minimal detectable change of 3.26
s. AST times were significantly associated with FMA-LE assessment, FTSTS times,
LOS in the forward and backward directions and to the affected side, BBS ratings
and TUG times. CONCLUSION: AST time is a reliable assessment tool that correlates
with different stroke-specific impairments in people with chronic stroke.

Langue : ANGLAIS