Abstract
ObjectiveThe timed ‘Up & Go’ test and ‘30second Chair-Stand’ test are simple clinical outcome measures widely used to assess functional performance. The reliability of both tests in hospitalised stroke patients is unknown. The purpose was to investigate the relative and absolute reliability of both tests in patients admitted to an acute stroke unit.MethodsSixty-two patients (men, n = 41) attended two test sessions separated by a one hours rest. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC2,1) were calculated to assess relative reliability. Absolute reliability was expressed as Standard Error of Measurement (with 95% certainty—SEM95) and Smallest Real Difference (SRD) and as percentage of their respective means if heteroscedasticity was observed in Bland Altman plots (SEM95% and SRD%).ResultsICC values for interrater reliability were 0.97 and 0.99 for the timed ‘Up & Go’ test and 0.88 and 0.94 for ‘30second Chair-Stand’ test, respectively. ICC values for intrarater reliability were 0.95 and 0.96 for the timed ‘Up & Go’ test and 0.87 and 0.91 for ‘30second Chair-Stand’ test, respectively. Heteroscedasticity was observed in the timed ‘Up & Go’ test. Interrater SEM95% ranged from 9.8% to 14.2% with corresponding SRD% of 13.9–20.1%. Intrarater SEM95% ranged from 15.8% to 18.7% with corresponding SRD% of 22.3–26.5%. For ‘30second Chair-Stand’ test interrater SEM95 ranged between 1.5 and 1.9 repetitions with corresponding SRD of 2 and 3 and intrarater SEM95 ranged between 1.8 and 2.0 repetitions with corresponding SRD values of 3.ConclusionExcellent reliability was observed for the timed ‘Up & Go’ test and the ‘30second Chair-Stand’ test in hospitalised stroke patients. The thresholds to detect a real change in performance were 18.7% for the timed ‘Up & Go’ test and 2.0 repetitions for the ‘30second Chair-Stand’ in groups of patients and 26.5% and 3 repetitions in individual patients, respectively.
Highlights
Stroke is one of the most disabling conditions leading to loss of mobility and independency [1]
Interrater SEM95% ranged from 9.8% to 14.2% with corresponding Smallest Real Difference (SRD)% of 13.9–20.1%
Intrarater SEM95% ranged from 15.8% to 18.7% with corresponding SRD% of 22.3–26.5%
Summary
Stroke is one of the most disabling conditions leading to loss of mobility and independency [1]. It is important that functional performance is evaluated with valid and reliable clinical outcome measures. Walking, standing and sitting on a chair are among the most affected activities for stroke patients and are considered important for the independency of everyday life [2,3,4]. The timed ‘Up & Go’ test (TUG) and ‘30second Chair-Stand’ test (30s-CST) are both outcome measures widely used in different groups of patients to assess functional performance such as walking, turning and the ability to perform sit to stand-tasks. TUG and 30s-CST are easy to administer compared with other performance measures and can be implemented in clinical practice [2, 4, 11, 12]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
