Reliability of the six-minute walk test after total hip arthroplasty.
BACKGROUND
Walking ability is a crucial component of lower extremity function. Assessment of walking after total hip arthroplasty (THA) provides important information about the healing process. Walking endurance, an important functional component of walking, can be reliably measured with the 6-minute walk test (6 mWT). Even though the 6 mWT is commonly used in patients with THA, its reliability has never been reported for this patient population. The aim of this study is to assess the reliability of the test-retest 6 mWT after THA.


METHODS
Thirty-four patients with THA performed two test trials on the same day, separated by a one hour seated rest. To assess reliability, intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC(2,1)), standard error of measurement (SEM), and smallest real difference (SRD) were calculated.


RESULTS
The 6 mWT showed a high reliability. The patients walked 3.71 metres more at the end of the second 6 mWT in comparison with the first test. The ICC(2,1) (AS(95)), SEM (m), SEM(95) (m) and SRD(95) (m) were 0.96 (0.92), 3.67, 7.19, and 10.17 m respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Reliability of the 6 mWT was high in patients with THA. The 6 mWT is a simple and sensitive method to measure the functional performance in patients with THA in the clinical setting. Moreover, clinicians and researchers can use the 6 mWT to quantify even small changes in functional performance after THA.
1 Dokuz Eylül University School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Izmir - Turkey.
Bayram
B
Unver
Turhan
T
Kahraman
Serpil
S
Kalkan
Ertuğrul
E
Yuksel
Vasfi
V
Karatosun
D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking