Test-Retest Reliability of Dynamic Balance Performance-Based Measures Among Adults With a Unilateral Lower-Limb Amputation.
Jefferson R Cardoso, Emma H Beisheim, John R Horne and 1 others
PMID 30031962WHAT IT FOUND
Several simple balance tests gave similar scores when repeated 2 to 4 days apart in higher-functioning adults with a unilateral lower-limb amputation, but this retracted report should not change practice.
Key findings
01The balance tests showed repeat-test agreement scores from 0.69 to 0.97 when the sessions were 2 to 4 days apart.
02Best and average trial scores showed similar agreement for all tests, so either scoring method may be used if the same method is repeated.
03The smallest change needed to be sure a score change was not just repeat-test variation did not exceed 10% of the mean for every studied variable.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The article is listed as a retracted publication, so its findings should not be treated as current evidence. The sample was 27 adults, and 92% were K3- or K4-level ambulators. The authors say generalizability is limited to patients with similar clinical presentations, e.g. below-knee amputation, higher functioning, and longer-term prosthesis users. Participants had high prosthesis use, socket comfort, and self-perceived mobility, with questionnaire scores greater than 75% of the maximum value. The study did not evaluate whether changes in scores were clinically important. The authors say evaluation of floor and ceiling effects with a larger, more diverse sample is an area for future research. The second session was 2 to 4 days after the first.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat these tests as reliable for all adults with a lower-limb amputation. The article is listed as a retracted publication, and its sample was 27 adults who were mostly K3 or K4 level and had high prosthesis use.