Validity, reliability and agreement of the two-minute step test in Parkinson's disease

This study analyzed the validity and reliability of the Two-Minute Step Test (2MST) in Parkinson`s disease (PD) people with different severities. Fifty people with PD were divided in two groups: the Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) stages 1 and 2 and stages 3 and 4. The 2MST and the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) were performed twice ("on" state). There was a significant positive correlation between the 6MWT and the 2MST in people with PD in stages 1 and 2 and stages 3 and 4 (r = 0.741 and r = 0.519, respectively). No significant differences were observed between test and retest in people with PD in stages 1 and 2 (P > 0.05), whereas for people with PD in stages 3 and 4, the 2MST was higher in the second test (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the 2MST showed good reliability and validity indicators in people in stages 1 and 2.