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The reliability of tests to be used in research or clinical practice should be established for each population specific to their intended use. Reliability is important because it allows correct evaluations to be made about treatment effects or about the amount of changes. To evaluate the test-retest reliability and minimal detectable change of the L-test in patients with advanced knee osteoarthritis (OA). The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC2,1) was used to assess the test-retest reliability of the L-test. The minimal detectable change with 95% confidence interval (MDC95) was calculated to determine the true change. The inclusion criteria were diagnosis of knee OA, had Kellgren Lawrence Grade IV and age of ≥40 years. Twenty-five participants who met the inclusion criteria were included. Five were male and the mean age was 62.32±9.77 years. All of the participants had radiographic findings indicative of Kellgren-Lawrence Grade IV. The L-test showed excellent test-retest reliability. The ICC was 0.99, the SEM and the MDC95 was 1,90 and 5.28 seconds, respectively. The L-test is a reliable outcome measurement for the assessment of walking ability in patients with advanced knee OA, and it showed very high test-retest reliability in these patients. This test may assist clinicians and researchers in assessing the functional mobility of patients and planning rehabilitation in patients with advanced knee OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The functional reach test (FRT) and lateral reach test (LRT) provide important measures of postural stability. The aims of this study were to (1) establish the normative values for FRT and LRT, and (2) examine the effects of age, gender, and various anthropometric measurements on FRT and LRT.Methods: Two hundred eighty children, aged 6–12 years, completed the study. One hundred fifty-two subjects were females. The mean age was 9.0 ± 2.0 years. Each child performed two trials of FRT and LRT.Results: No significant differences were detected in any age group between males and females. The normal values of FRT ranged between 23.0 and 36.5 cm, and that of LRT between 18.0 and 28.0 cm. Height, length of upper and lower extremity, and arm span had a higher correlation with FRT. Age and weight showed a good correlation with FRT. Age, height, weight, length of upper and lower extremity, and arm span showed good correlation with LRT.Conclusions: These normative data will be useful for clinicians in the assessment of balance of individual children and in the diagnosis of potential balance deficits at an early age in the Turkish population. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an established method used in the treatment of end-stage knee osteoarthritis. Range of motion (ROM) and relief from pain show success of TKA. One of the most important aims of this treatment is to achieve an adequate ROM. Numerous outcome instruments and patient-reported questionnaires are in use to evaluate of TKA patients. For this purpose, disease-specific questionnaires and self-reported ROM and function evaluation tools are also being developed. The most important criteria in musculoskeletal care is assessing the joint mobility of the patient's. Joint mobility can be measured with visual estimates, universal goniometer, X-ray radiography, digital gravity goniometers and applications found in smart phones. Apart from the reliability and validity of the method, obtaining the same results from different examiners is very important. The clinical follow-up of patients is an important part of postoperative care after TKA. The follow-up interval and duration remain dependent on the physician's anticipation of the clinical progress of the individual patient. Long-term surveillance of joint arthroplasty is necessary, but it has also become increasingly burdensome as greater numbers of TKAs are performed, and in younger populations. Patient self-reported questionnaires and self-goniometric measurement are used by many investigators to decrease this burden on the surgeon or staff, and in combination with telemedicine radiographs might be a reasonable option to routine clinic visits. They could reasonably be expected to lower the burden on both the patient and the clinician without eliminating contact and thus sacrificing quality of care. At the same time, it would reduce the financial burden too. Self-reported measured ROM can use in the routine follow-ups to reduce surgeons, physiotherapist and other staff.