title: Reliability and validity of the L test in participants with chronic stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many clinical mobility tests have been used for individuals who have suffered a stroke; however, the ceiling effect has been identified as a limitation for relatively high functioning individuals. The L test, a variation of the timed up and go test (TUG), was developed as a mobility test for patients after amputation. The objective of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the L test among patients following a stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rehabilitation hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three chronic stroke survivors {20 males and 13 females, mean age 52.4 [standard deviation (SD) 11.2] years; mean time since stroke 29.1 (SD 13.3) months}.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Validity was assessed by correlating the L test with other mobility tests (TUG, 10-m walk test and 2-minute walk test). Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to investigate reliability. The minimal detectable change (MDC) was used to determine true change.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The L test was strongly correlated with the TUG test (r=0.887), and had excellent intra-rater (ICC3,1=0.99) and inter-rater reliability (ICC2,1=0.99). The MDC with a 95% confidence interval was 4seconds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The L test is a reliable, valid tool for evaluating gait in patients following a stroke. It is a more applicable method to assess individuals who are able to walk greater distances and have better gait in more functional situations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Seoul Rehabilitation Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: D Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: hyeseonj@yonsei.ac.kr.
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Jeon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D004856:Postural Balance; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016138:Walking
keywords: Gait; Reliability; Stroke; Validity