Utility of an obstacle-crossing test to classify future fallers and non-fallers at hospital discharge after stroke: A pilot study.
Jody A Feld, Adam P Goode, Vicki S Mercer and 1 others
PMID 35667230WHAT IT FOUND
Stroke survivors who failed to step over a customized obstacle before hospital discharge were three times more likely to fall in the next three months.
This simple test may help identify those needing extra fall prevention, though results are not precise enough for routine practice yet.
Key findings
01Participants who failed the obstacle test had three times the risk of falling in the first three months compared to those who passed.
02The test correctly identified 67% of future fallers and 83% of non-fallers.
03Prediction was less accurate for participants who used a walker, with most walker users who fell passing the test.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The study was a pilot with fewer participants than planned (45 instead of 50). The estimates of accuracy were imprecise, meaning the true risk could be higher or lower. The test performed poorly for people using walkers. No participants discharged directly from acute care fell, limiting conclusions about that setting.
Declared interests
The authors report no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this test is ready for routine clinical use. The results are from a small pilot study with imprecise estimates, and the test missed most falls among patients using walkers.