title: Reliability in the parameterization of the functional reach test in elderly stroke patients: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postural instability is one of the major complications found in stroke survivors. Parameterising the functional reach test (FRT) could be useful in clinical practice and basic research.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the reliability, sensitivity, and specificity in the FRT parameterisation using inertial sensors for recording kinematic variables in patients who have suffered a stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study. While performing FRT, two inertial sensors were placed on the patient's back (lumbar and trunk).
  
  
  METHODS
  Five subjects over 65 who suffer from a stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  FRT measures, lumbosacral/thoracic maximum angular displacement, maximum time of lumbosacral/thoracic angular displacement, time return initial position, and total time. Speed and acceleration of the movements were calculated indirectly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FRT measure is  12.75±2.06 cm. Intrasubject reliability values range from 0.829 (time to return initial position (lumbar sensor)) to 0.891 (lumbosacral maximum angular displacement). Intersubject reliability values range from 0.821 (time to return initial position (lumbar sensor)) to 0.883 (lumbosacral maximum angular displacement). FRT's reliability was 0.987 (0.983-0.992) and 0.983 (0.979-0.989) intersubject and intrasubject, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The main conclusion could be that the inertial sensors are a tool with excellent reliability and validity in the parameterization of the FRT in people who have had a stroke.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Psiquiatría y Fisioterapia, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Merchán-Baeza
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Psiquiatría y Fisioterapia, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González-Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Psiquiatría y Fisioterapia, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain ; School of Clinical Sciences, The Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia.
authors.forename: Antonio Ignacio
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Cuesta-Vargas
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D009068:Movement; D010865:Pilot Projects; D004856:Postural Balance; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation