TY - JOUR
T1 - Four Square Step Test in ambulant persons with multiple sclerosis
T2 - Validity, reliability, and responsiveness
AU - Wagner, Joanne M.
AU - Norris, Rosemary A.
AU - Van Dillen, Linda R.
AU - Thomas, Florian P.
AU - Naismith, Robert T.
PY - 2013/9
Y1 - 2013/9
N2 - The aim of this study was to establish the concurrent validity and relative and absolute reliability, define the minimal detectable change, and evaluate the floor and ceiling effects of the Four Square Step Test (FSST) in ambulant persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). Twenty-five pwMS performed the FSST on two occasions, 8.1±4.1 days apart. During the first testing, session participants also reported their fall history, performed the Berg Balance Scale, Dynamic Gait Index, and completed the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale. Performance on the FSST was significantly (P<0.001) and strongly associated with performance on the Berg Balance Scale (rs=-0.84), Dynamic Gait Index (rs=-0.81), and Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (rs=-0.78). Relative reliability of the FSST was excellent (ICC2,1=0.922). The minimal detectable change estimate for the FSST was 4.6 s. The FSST is a valid and reliable measure of dynamic standing balance in ambulant pwMS. However, because a substantial change (43%) is required to demonstrate a real change in individual performance, the FSST is unlikely to be sensitive in detecting longitudinal change in dynamic standing balance.
AB - The aim of this study was to establish the concurrent validity and relative and absolute reliability, define the minimal detectable change, and evaluate the floor and ceiling effects of the Four Square Step Test (FSST) in ambulant persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). Twenty-five pwMS performed the FSST on two occasions, 8.1±4.1 days apart. During the first testing, session participants also reported their fall history, performed the Berg Balance Scale, Dynamic Gait Index, and completed the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale. Performance on the FSST was significantly (P<0.001) and strongly associated with performance on the Berg Balance Scale (rs=-0.84), Dynamic Gait Index (rs=-0.81), and Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (rs=-0.78). Relative reliability of the FSST was excellent (ICC2,1=0.922). The minimal detectable change estimate for the FSST was 4.6 s. The FSST is a valid and reliable measure of dynamic standing balance in ambulant pwMS. However, because a substantial change (43%) is required to demonstrate a real change in individual performance, the FSST is unlikely to be sensitive in detecting longitudinal change in dynamic standing balance.
KW - multiple sclerosis
KW - reliability
KW - standing balance
KW - viability
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84882450326&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/MRR.0b013e32835fd97f
DO - 10.1097/MRR.0b013e32835fd97f
M3 - Article
C2 - 23511117
AN - SCOPUS:84882450326
SN - 0342-5282
VL - 36
SP - 253
EP - 259
JO - International Journal of Rehabilitation Research
JF - International Journal of Rehabilitation Research
IS - 3
ER -