Comparison of psychometric properties of the dual-task timed up-and-go test (cognitive) and the 3-m walk backward test in community-dwelling stroke patients.

BACKGROUND

There is a need for practical, easy-to-use and accurately assessing balance tools in stroke patients.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to compare the psychometric properties of the dual-task Timed Up-and-Go test (cognitive) (DTUG) and the 3-m walk backward test (3MBWT) in stroke patients.

METHODS

This study evaluated the practicality, validity, and reliability of the DTUG and the 3MBWT. The test-retest method was used for reliability. The Modified Four Square Step Test (MFSST), the Timed Up-and-Go (TUG), and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were administered for concurrent validity. A cutoff value was calculated to discriminate between fallers and non-fallers.

RESULTS

The mean practicality times of the tests were 63.58 ± 47.32 sec for DTUG and 37.42 ± 24.036 sec for 3MBWT. Intraclass correlation coefficient of the DTUG and 3MBWT were 0.977, 0.964, respectively which showed excellent test - retest reliability. The DTUG demonstrated strong/very strong correlations with the MFSST ( = 0.724,  < 0.001), TUG ( = 0.909,  < 0.001), and BBS ( = -0.740,  < 0.001). The 3MBWT showed strong correlations with the MFSST ( = 0.835,  < 0.001), the TUG ( = 0.799,  < 0.001), and the BBS ( = -0.740,  < 0.001). The cutoff point was 36.945 s for DTUG and 14.605 s for 3MBWT.

CONCLUSIONS

The 3MBWT was a more practical test than the DTUG; however, the DTUG was more discriminative than the 3MBWT in identifying fallers after stroke.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05211349.

URL

https://register.clinicaltrials.gov/prs/app/action/SelectProtocol?sid=S000BRKZ&selectaction=Edit&uid=U0005GRO&ts=2&cx=z21bhg.