Reliabilities of the Groningen Functional Capacity Test

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Sports Science
• Disability Studies

Background:

• Recreational sports programs aim to improve functional capacity in individuals with chronic diseases and physical handicaps.
• The need for reliable assessment tools is crucial for creating homogeneous groups and tailoring sports activities.
• The SCALA program utilizes sports to enhance the well-being of participants with chronic conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a preliminary evaluation of the test-retest reliability of the Groningen Functional Capacity Test.
• To determine the suitability of the Groningen Functional Capacity Test for assessing functional capacity in participants of the SCALA recreational sports program.
• To ascertain if the test can aid in forming homogeneous sport groups based on functional abilities.

Main Methods:

• The study involved 52 adult participants (aged 46-71) randomly selected from the SCALA project.
• The Groningen Functional Capacity Test, comprising eight subtests (reaching, balancing, ball-catching, picking up objects, ball-kicking, ball-throwing accuracy, tennis, walking), was administered.
• Intraclass correlations were calculated to assess the test-retest reliability of the subtests.

Main Results:

• Intraclass correlation coefficients for test-retest reliability ranged from .58 to .96.
• Significant improvements on retest were observed in the walking subtest (total sample and men) and picking up objects subtest (total sample, men, and women).
• Most subtests demonstrated satisfactory test-retest reliability.

Conclusions:

• The Groningen Functional Capacity Test exhibits satisfactory test-retest reliability for most subtests.
• The test is a valuable tool for assessing functional capacity within the SCALA recreational sports program.
• Implementation of the Groningen Functional Capacity Test in the SCALA program is recommended for creating homogeneous sport groups.