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Background Step Test (ST) is frequently used to assess dynamic balance and locomotor function in clinical practice. Aims This study aimed to determine the concurrent validity, reliability, and minimal detectable change (MDC) of the ST in patients with total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods The study included 56 patients with TKA. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to assess the test-retest reliability of the ST. The correlations of the ST with timed up and go (TUG) and 10-m walk test (10MWT) were assessed for concurrent validity. Results Test-retest (ICC 0.90) reliability of the ST was determined to be excellent. The SEM and MDC95 values of test-retest reliability were 0.76 and 2.11, respectively. A significantly moderate correlation was found between the ST and TUG (p < 0.05, r: - 0.69), and 10MWT (p < 0.05, r: - 0.67). Conclusion The ST is a valid and reliable method in the assessment of dynamic balance ability and locomotor function in patients with TKA. The ST can be used to quantify changes in dynamic balance level and locomotor function in patients with TKA.

The L test is a modified version of the timed up and go test (TUG), extending the walking distance from 6 to 20 meters and also requiring participants to make four turns in both (right/left) direction. It could be a useful measurement method in assessment of functional mobility for patients with Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA). The aim of the study was to determine reliability, concurrent validity, and minimal detectable change (MDC) of L test in patients with TKA.The study included 43 patients with TKA. The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) was used to assess the intra-rater reliability of the L test. The correlations of the L test with TUG were assessed for concurrent validity.Intra-rater (ICC 0.97) reliability of the L test was determined to be excellent. The SEM and MDCThe L test is a valid and reliable method in the assessment of functional mobility in patients with TKA. The L test can be used to quantify changes in functional mobility level in patients with TKA.Implications for rehabilitationThe L test is a reliable and valid measurement tool that can be used to assess functional mobility in patients with TKA.Clinicians and researchers can use a greater change than 2.84 seconds for the L test as a meaningful change in patients with TKA.

Background Ankle sprains are one of the most frequent injuries between athletes. After an ankle injury, 72% of patients will experience some degree of functional impairment (proprioception, ankle stability, and balance), which leads to changes in sporting and occupational activities. In the literature, there is no enough information about how bandaging and taping can affect the ankle sprain treatment and rehabilitation process. Method Seventy-four healthy participants, the age range was 18-30 years old participated in this study. The participants were divided into two groups (taping, and bandaging groups). Proprioception and balance have been measured four times (before using tap, 20 min after using tap, 24 h after using tap, and after removing the tap). Results In both groups (bandaging group and taping group), proprioception and balance significantly increased immediately after using tape and bandage, after 24 h of using tape and bandage, and after 48 h using tape and bandage when compared to the baseline measurements. There were no significant differences in proprioception and balance between groups. Conclusion Ankle tape and bandage can significantly improve balance and proprioception in the uninjured ankle during the entire interval of their use.

Background/aim: The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is the most commonly used and well-established test to measure functional exercise capacity in research and clinical settings. Country-specific reference values are important to interpret the results of 6MWT. However, no reference values have been reported for healthy Turkish children aged between 6 and 12 years old. The aim of this study was to determine normal reference values for the 6MWT test of healthy Turkish children aged between 6 and 12 years old. Materials and methods: Two hundred and sixty-two healthy children aged between 6 and 12 years old were included in this cross-sectional study. Measures included height, weight, body mass index (BMI), leg length, and 6MWT distance (6MWD). Results: The mean 6MWD was 572.58 (SD = 117.72) m. There were significant correlations between 6MWD and age (r = 0.764, P < 0.001), height (r = 0.742, P < 0.001), weight (r = 0.605, P < 0.001), BMI (r = 0.234, P < 0.001), and lower extremity length (r = 0.708, P < 0.001). In the stepwise multiple linear regression model, age and height explained about 60% of the variability of the 6MWT distance for the total sample. Conclusion: Reference values and prediction equation for the 6MWT in healthy Turkish children aged 6?12 years old have been reported for the first time in this study. Researchers and clinicians can use them to interpret the effectiveness of a treatment and/or to compare the results of disabled children with healthy ones.

Purpose: Performance-based outcome measures are becoming increasingly important in health care. The 2-minute walk test (2MWT) and the Timed Up and Go test (TUG) are frequently used in clinical trials as performance-based tests in many diseases including osteoarthritis. The purposes of this study were: (1) to determine test-retest reliability of data for the 2MWT and the TUG; (2) to determine minimal detectable change (MDC) scores for the TUG and 2MWT in patients with total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods: 37 patients, who had undergone primary THA, were included. Patients twice performed trials for the 2MWT and TUG on the same day. In addition to demographic data of patients, the Harris Hip Score, 2MWT and TUG scores were recorded. Results: The TUG and 2MWT showed excellent test-retest reliability. The Intraclass correlation coefficient ICC (2,1), Standard error of measurement (SEM) and minimal detectable chance at the 95% CI (MDC95) for TUG were 0.96, 0.59 seconds and 1.62 seconds respectively. The ICC (2,1), SEM and MDC95 for 2MWT were 0.96, 6.37 m and 17.56 m respectively. Conclusion: Clinicians and researchers can be confident that greater changes than 1.62 seconds for TUG and 17.56 m for the 2MWT over time represent a real clinical change in rehabilitation process in patients with THA. Both the 2MWT and TUG may assist in early identification of patients who may need additional rehabilitation to reduce the potential for poor outcomes after THA. Therefore, both of these tests can be used in a clinical setting with a small measurement error.

BACKGROUND: Six-minute walk test (6MWT) is the most used test to assess functional capacity. Including arm span in the prediction equations for 6MWT performance might be an alternative for use in traditional reference equations. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate the usability of arm span to predict the 6MWT distance in healthy children. METHODS: 262 healthy children aged between 6 and 12 years old participated in this study. 6MWT was conducted according to the standardized protocol. Height, weight, and arm span were measured before performing the 6MWT. A multiple stepwise linear regression analysis was used to generate the regression model. RESULTS: The 6MWT distance had strong positive correlations with age, arm span, height, and weight (p

Background: Evaluation of range of motion (ROM) is integral to assessment of the musculoskeletal system, is required in health fitness and pathologic conditions, and is used as an objective outcome measure. Several methods are described to check ROM, each with advantages and disadvantages. Hence, this study introduces a new device using a smartphone goniometer to measure ankle joint ROM. Objective: To test the reliability of smartphone goniometry in the ankle joint by comparing it with the universal goniometer (UG) and to assess interrater and intrarater reliability for the smartphone goniometer record (SGR) application. Methods: Fifty-eight healthy volunteers (29 men and 29 women aged 18–30 years) underwent SGR and UG measurement of ankle joint dorsiflexion and plantarflexion. Two examiners measured ankle joint ROM. Descriptive statistics were calculated for descriptive and anthropometric variables, as were intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Results: There were 58 usable data sets. For measuring ankle dorsiflexion ROM, both instruments showed excellent interrater reliability: UG (ICC = 0.87) and SGR (ICC = 0.89). Intrarater reliability was excellent in both instruments in ankle dorsiflexion: UG and SGR (mean ICC = 0.91). For measuring ankle plantarflexion, both instruments showed excellent interrater reliability: UG (ICC = 0.76) and SGR (ICC = 0.82). Intrarater reliability was excellent in both instruments in ankle plantarflexion: UG (mean ICC = 0.85) and SGR (mean ICC = 0.82). Conclusions: Smartphone-based goniometers can be used to assess active ROM of the ankle joint because they can achieve a high degree of intrarater and interrater reliability.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the reliability of the 50-Foot Walk Test (50 FWT) and 30-second Chair Stand Test (30 CST) in patients who have undergone total knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS: The study was designed as a test-retest research. Thirty-three patients who would undergo bilateral TKA were recruited. The tests 30 CST and 50 FWT were performed twice on the same day with 5-minute intervals, respectively. Between the first and second tests, patients waited for an hour on sitting position in order to prevent fatigue. In addition to these tests, we registered the knee pain experienced by the patients using a 100 mm VAS scale. RESULTS: The 50 FWT and 30 CST showed excellent reliability. ICC for 50 FWT and 30 CST were 0.97 and 0.92, respectively. SRD95 was 1.07 for 50 FWT and 0.96 for 30 CST. CONCLUSIONS: According to results of this study, both 50 FWT and 30 CST have excellent reliability in patients with TKA. These tests are simple, no time consuming and constitute sensitive methods to measure the functional performance in patients with TKA in the clinical settings. Clinicians and researchers may use these tests to quantify even small changes in functional performance for patients with TKA. Level of Evidence III, Diagnostic Study.

To investigate the test-retest reliability of the 4-meter walk test (4 MWT) and 10-meter walk test (10 MWT) in patients undergoing lower extremity surgery during inpatient rehabilitation.In all, 102 patients with total hip arthroplasty (THA), total knee arthroplasty (TKA), lower extremity fracture (LEF) and soft tissue operation were recruited. Patients performed two 4 MWT and two 10 MWT trials on the same day. The same researcher performed all the measurements to avoid inter-rater variability.The 4 MWT and 10 MWT were shown to have excellent test-retest reliability. The ICCs for the 4 MWT and 10 MWT were found as 0.94 and 0.95, respectively. The SEMs for the 4 MWT and 10 MWT were 2.0 and 5.5 seconds, respectively. The smallest real difference at the 95% confidence level (SRD95) was 5.5 seconds for the 4 MWT and 12.2 seconds for 10 MWT and SRD95 percentage was 31.2 for the 4 MWT and 28.5 for the 10 MWT.Both the 4 MWT and the 10 MWT have excellent reliability in patients undergoing lower extremity surgery such as TKA, THA, LEF and soft tissue operation during inpatient rehabilitation. Clinicians and researchers can be confident that changes above the SRD95s for the different patient groups, for both sexes and with regard to weight-bearing status, represent a real clinical change in rehabilitation process. Implications for Rehabilitation The 4 MWT and the 10 MWT are simple methods and were also shown to be reliable measurement methods in many patient groups. This study illustrates that the test-retest reliability of the 4 MWT and 10 MWT are excellent in patients undergoing lower extremity surgery during inpatient rehabilitation (ICC: 0.94 for 4 MWT, ICC: 0.95 for 10 MWT). Clinicians and researchers can be confident that changes above the SRD95s for the different patient groups, for both sexes and with regard to weight-bearing status represent a real clinical change in rehabilitation process.