title: Reliability and validity of selected measures associated with increased fall risk in females over the age of 45 years with distal radius fracture - A pilot study.
abstract: METHODS
  Clinical measurement.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study examined test-retest reliability and convergent/divergent construct validity of selected tests and measures that assess balance impairment, fear of falling (FOF), impaired physical activity (PA), and lower extremity muscle strength (LEMS) in females >45 years of age after the distal radius fracture (DRF) population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty one female participants with DRF were assessed on two occasions. Timed Up and Go, Functional Reach, and One Leg Standing tests assessed balance impairment. Shortened Falls Efficacy Scale, Activity-specific Balance Confidence scale, and Fall Risk Perception Questionnaire assessed FOF. International Physical Activity Questionnaire and Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity were administered to assess PA level. Chair stand test and isometric muscle strength testing for hip and knee assessed LEMS. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) examined the test-retest reliability of the measures. Pearson correlation coefficients (r) examined concurrent relationships between the measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results demonstrated fair to excellent test-retest reliability (ICC between 0.50 and 0.96) and low to moderate concordance between the measures (low if r ≤ 0.4; moderate if r = 0.4-0.7).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results provide preliminary estimates of test-retest reliability and convergent/divergent construct validity of selected measures associated with increased risk for falling in the females >45 years of age after DRF. Further research directions to advance knowledge regarding fall risk assessment in DRF population have been identified.
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Therapy, Marshall University, Huntington, WV 25702, USA; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV 25701, USA. Electronic address: mehtas@marshall.edu.
authors.forename: Saurabh P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.affiliation: School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Hand and Upper Limb Centre Clinical Research Laboratory, St. Joseph's Health Centre, 268 Grosvenor St., London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Joy C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: MacDermid
authors.affiliation: School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.affiliation: School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Norma J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: MacIntyre
authors.affiliation: Hand and Upper Limb Centre Clinical Research Laboratory, St. Joseph's Health Centre, 268 Grosvenor St., London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Surgery, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Ruby
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grewal
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D004856:Postural Balance; D011885:Radius Fractures; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment
keywords: Distal radius fracture; Fall risk; Osteoporosis; Psychometric properties