2011– Abstract publication “Reliability of the Six Minute Walk Test and Timed Up & Go Test in Persons with Transfemoral Amputation”, Physiotherapy, 97, Supplement 1, June 2011, p: S18-S1415 - Special Interest Report Abstracts, pages. S227. (IF=0.641)Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the between two days test-retest reliability of the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) in persons with Transfemoral (TF) amputation. Additionally, relationship between the distance of walking in the 6MWT and the time to perform the Timed Up & Go Test (TUGT) was investigated.
Relevance: Transfemoral amputation results in permanent disability and impairment among people of all ages. Therefore, the main goals of rehabilitation programs are the improvement of functioning, especially mobility, and successful reintegration in the community. Generally, the effectiveness of these programs is assessed in terms of ability to walk independently, as well as, the maximum functional independence achieve by the subject. In several pathologies and age groups, the 6MWT and the TUGT are considered as gold standard measures showing high test-retest reliability. Additionally, good results were found in subjects with transtibial amputation. Thus, it becomes relevant to explore the reliability of these two tests in other lower-limb amputees, such as TF one's.
Participants: Thirty subjects (25 men; 5 women) with unilateral TF amputation, mean(SD) age 44(17.3)yr, height 169.9(7.6)cm, body mass 71.7(15.2)kg, body mass index 24.7(5.3)kg/m2 participated in this study. They were recruited from hospitals, rehabilitation centers and prosthetic manufactures of Lisbon. All participants gave their written informed consent.
Methods: Participants performed one trial of 6MWT and two trials of TUGT on two different days, in a test-retest study design. After being instructed to walk along a 30-m indoor corridor, the subjects performed the 6MWT. In order to minimize the influence of fatigue, the TUGT was carried out half an hour later. Each subject performed twice this test with a two minutes rest time between trials. On the second day, the tests were performed in the same order and time.
Analysis: Descriptive statistics are reported as mean±SD. Before comparisons, data were tested for normality with the Shapiro Wilk test. Since distributions were skewed, comparisons were computed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Reliability of the two trials was examined with Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC3). Spearman´s rank correlation coefficient was used to evaluate statistical dependence between 6MWT and TUGT. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.
Results: Between days comparisons of the 6MWT (day1, 314.0±109.7m; day2, 329.4±109.7m; p<0.001) and the TUGT (day1, 13.3±4.7s; day2, 12.7±4.5s; p<0.001) showed better values in second day. ICC3 were 0.97 and 0.96 for 6MWT and TUGT, respectively. High correlations were observed between 6MWT and TUGT (day1, rS =-0.91, p<0.001; day2, rS =-0.90, p<0.001).
Conclusions: The results showed high test-retest reliability between days, both for the 6MWT and the TUGT. Subjects that walked longer distance in 6MWT performed the TUGT in less time.
Implications: The 6MWT might be considered as a reliable instrument to measure functional capacity in persons with TF amputation. The TUGT should be used for assessment of physical mobility, postural control, set of transfers, level walking, and turns in amputees
