Article

The aim of his study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of
the Expanded Timed Get-up-and-Go (ETGUG) test in patients with bilateral
vestibular loss (BVL). METHODS: 21 BVL patients (58 +/- 14 years) were recruited
and measured twice by two raters. After a one hour break ETGUG was repeated by
the first rater. 21 age matched controls (CON; 58 +/- 14 years) were measured
once by the first rater. All time scores of the ETGUG for the separate tasks and
gait speed calculated from tasks 3 and 5 were analysed to determine relative and
absolute reliability, smallest detectable change (SDC) and discriminatory
capabilities. RESULTS: The ETGUG scores showed good to excellent inter-rater
(ICC2,1 = 0.85-0.97) and test-retest reliability (ICC3,1 = 0.86-0.98) following
log-transformation for tasks 2-6. Task1 scored fair r = 0.46-0.68. The SDCs were
small (SDC = 0.05-0.21 seconds). Bland-Altman plots demonstrated good agreement
between the measurements. There were significant differences between BVL and CON
in ETGUG scores for tasks 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 & overall time. Task 2 showed no
difference between the groups. BVL patients walked slower compared to the
age-matched controls. DISCUSSION: Good reliability of the ETGUG in BVL and an
indication for the discriminatory capabilities for the separate tasks suggest
that the ETGUG could facilitate the study of functional deficits in BVL patients.
Good reliability, small measurement error and values of SDC warrant the further
utilisation of the ETGUG for the evaluation of physical functioning in BVL
patients.

Langue : ANGLAIS