Sit-and-reach test can predict mobility of patients recovering from acute stroke.

OBJECTIVES To establish the test-retest reliability of the sit-and-reach test (SRT) and to determine the capacity of the SRT to predict mobility of patients recovering from acute stroke. DESIGN Study 1 consisted of repeating the SRT to examine its reliability over trials (same day) and sessions (alternate days). Study 2 consisted of measuring performance in the SRT 7 to 10 days poststroke and measuring mobility at discharge for prospective analysis. SETTING Medical and rehabilitation wards in hospital in Hong Kong. PARTICIPANTS Thirty-six subjects with acute stroke (study 1, n=10; study 2, n=26). INTERVENTIONS Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Between 7 and 10 days of stroke onset, distance reached on the SRT was measured. Mobility at discharge was assessed using the transfer and locomotion scale of the FIM instrument (FIM mobility) and a timed walk test. RESULTS The intertrial and intersession reliability of the SRT were rated good, with intraclass correlation coefficients of .98 and .79, respectively. Distance reached on the SRT correlated with the FIM mobility score on discharge (r=.572, P=.002) and the distance achieved on the timed walk test (r=.524, P=.006). Distance reached on the SRT accounted for 32.7% and 27.5% of the variance in the FIM mobility score at discharge and the distance achieved on the timed walk test, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Performance in the SRT is reliable and can significantly predict the mobility of patients with acute stroke at discharge.

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