Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 9, 2026
Measurements of Motor Function and Other Clinical Outcome Parameters in Ambulant Children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Published on: January 12, 2019
Is one trial enough for repeated testing? Same-day assessments of walking, mobility and fine hand use in people with
Marie Kierkegaard1, Emilie Petitclerc2, Luc J Hébert3
1Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Functional Area Occupational Therapy & Physiotherapy, Allied Health Professionals Function, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm SE-171 76, Sweden; Centre de recherche Charles-Le-Moyne, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500, Boul. de l'Université, Sherbrooke, Québec J1K 2R1, Canada; Groupe de Recherche Interdisciplinaire sur les Maladies Neuromusculaires (GRIMN), CIUSSS du Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean, Site Jonquière, 2230 rue de l'Hôpital, Saguenay, Québec G7X 7X2, Canada.
Abstract:
Performance-based assessments of physical function are essential in people with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) to monitor disease progression and evaluate interventions. Commonly used are the six-minute walk test, the 10 m-walk test, the timed up-and-go test, the timed-stands test, grip strength tests and the nine-hole peg test. The number of trials needed on a same-day test occasion and whether the first, best or average of trials should be reported as result is unknown. Thus, the aim was to describe and explore differences between trials in these measures of walking, mobility and fine hand use in 70 adults with DM1. Three trials were performed for each test except for the six-minute walk test where two trials were allowed. There were statistical significant differences over trials in all tests except for the 10 m-walk test and grip strength tests. Pair-wise comparisons showed that the second and third trials were in general better than the first, although effect sizes were small. At which trial the individuals performed their best differed between individuals and tests. People with severe muscular impairment had difficulties to perform repeated trials. Intraclass correlation coefficients were all high in analyses exploring how to report results. The conclusion and clinical implication is that, for a same-day test occasion, one trial is sufficient for the 10 m-walk test and grip strength tests, and that repeated trials should be allowed in the timed up-and-go test, timed-stands test and nine-hole peg tests. We recommend that two trials are performed for these latter tests as such a protocol could accommodate people with various levels of impairments and physical limitations.
