A new clinical test of dynamic standing balance in the frontal plane: the side-step test.
OBJECTIVE
To confirm retest reliability for the side-step test and to investigate the validity of the side-step test by correlating performance on this test with that on other commonly used measures of balance and mobility.


METHODS
Katta Public Hospital, Miyagi, Japan.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study. Intraclass correlation coefficient was examined by calculating the intra-rater reliability of the side-step test. Moreover, the validity of the test was examined by correlating maximum side-step length with gait parameters.


METHODS
This study recruited 28 hemiplegic subjects (17 with left-sided hemiplegia and 11 with right-sided hemiplegia).


METHODS
We measured balance ability and walking ability as follows: dynamic balance ability was assessed from maximum side-step length from the side-step test, static balance ability from one-footed standing duration, and walking ability from maximum walking speed, stride length and cadence. Balance ability was measured on both the affected and unaffected side. Maximum side-step length was standardized in terms of lower extremity length.


RESULTS
Intraclass correlation coefficient of maximum side-step length was 0.97 bilaterally. There was a high linear correlation between maximum side-step length and both maximum walking speed and stride length; Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient ranged from 0.84 to 0.89. One-footed standing duration was significantly correlated with maximum side-step length, maximum walking speed and stride length, and these relationships were non-linear.


CONCLUSIONS
The reliability and validity of the side-step test was confirmed.
Fujisawa
Hiroyuki
H
Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medical Science and Welfare, Tohoku Bunka Gakuen University, Sendai, Japan. fujisawa@rehab.tbgu.ac.jp
Takeda
Ryoko
R
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D004856:Postural Balance; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D016138:Walking