Validation of a new lower-extremity motor coordination test.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the test-retest reliability and construct validity of a new lower-extremity motor coordination test, the Lower Extremity MOtor COordination Test (LEMOCOT).


METHODS
To test reliability, subjects with impairments in at least 1 lower extremity were evaluated twice by the same evaluator. To test construct validity, the LEMOCOT scores obtained from subjects who had had a stroke were correlated with physical, functional, cognitive, and perceptual tests.


METHODS
Geriatric day hospital and functional intensive rehabilitation unit.


METHODS
In the reliability test, 29 people (mean age, 69.6y; range, 28-87y); in the construct validity, 144 people who recently had had a stroke.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
In addition to the LEMOCOT, the following measures were used for construct validity: the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (motor function), Berg Balance Scale, 5-m walking test, 2-minute walking test, Functional Autonomy Measurement System, Modified Mini-Mental State Examination, and Motor-Free Visual Perceptual Test.


RESULTS
Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) indicated that test-retest reliability is good (right-side ICC=.88; left-side ICC=.83). The construct validity of the LEMOCOT was demonstrated by obtaining high correlations with physical and functional tests ( r range, .62-.79; P <.001) and no correlations with cognitive ( r =.11, P =.20) or visual perceptual tests ( r =.15, P =.08) and by discriminating between subjects discharged to long-term care versus other living environments ( P <.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The LEMOCOT is a simple lower-extremity motor coordination test that showed good test-retest reliability and construct validity. It can be used in clinical and research settings, specifically with people who have had a stroke. Other studies should be carried out to confirm its psychometric properties.
Desrosiers
Johanne
J
Research Center on Aging, Sherbrooke Geriatric University Institute, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
Rochette
Annie
A
Corriveau
Hélène
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009048:Motor Skills; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation