Reliability and validity of Alternate Step Test times in subjects with chronic stroke
Sammanfattning
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.