title: The short physical performance battery as a predictor of functional capacity after stroke.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The short physical performance battery is a widely used instrument for quantifying lower extremity function in older adults. However, its utility for predicting endurance-based measures of functional performance that are more difficult to conduct in clinical settings is unknown. An understanding of this could be particularly relevant in mobility impaired stroke survivors, for whom establishing the predictive strength of simpler to perform measures would aid in tracking broader categories of functional disability. This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine whether the short physical performance battery is related to functional measures with a strong endurance component.
  
  
  METHODS
  Functional measures (short physical performance battery, peak aerobic capacity, and 6-minute walk) were obtained and compared for the first time in stroke survivors with hemiparetic gait. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to assess strength of the relationships (α P < .05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-three stroke participants performed a standardized short physical performance battery. Forty-one of the subjects completed a 6-minute walk, and 40 completed a peak treadmill test. Mean short physical performance battery (6.3 ± 2.5 [mean ± SD]), 6-minute walk (242 ± 115 meters), and peak aerobic capacity (17.4 ± 5.4 mL/kg/min) indicated subjects had moderate to severely impaired lower extremity functional performance. The short physical performance battery was related to both 6-minute walk (r = 0.76; P < .0001) and peak fitness (r = 0.52; P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show that the short physical performance battery may be reflective of endurance-based, longer-distance performance measures that would be difficult to perform in standard clinical stroke settings. Additional studies are needed to explore the value of using the short physical performance battery to assess rehabilitation-related functional progression after stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterans Affairs and Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Baltimore, Maryland. Electronic address: alyssa.stookey@va.gov.
authors.forename: Alyssa D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Stookey
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterans Affairs and Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Leslie I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Katzel
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterans Affairs and Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Steinbrenner
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterans Affairs and Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shaughnessy
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterans Affairs and Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Neurology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Frederick M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Ivey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010291:Paresis / Q000503:physiopathology; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D020127:Recovery of Function; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology