Performance-based tests in individuals with Parkinson's disease: Outcome scores and reliability

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Science
• Movement Disorders

Background:

• Parkinson's disease (PD) significantly impacts mobility, necessitating reliable assessment tools.
• Performance-based tests are crucial for evaluating functional mobility in PD.
• The optimal number of repetitions for these tests in PD remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare outcome scores and reliability of key mobility tests in individuals with Parkinson's disease.
• To determine if one, two, or three repetitions are necessary for reliable measurements.
• To assess inter-rater and test-retest reliability across different repetition protocols.

Main Methods:

• A reliability study involving 52 individuals with Parkinson's disease.
• Four performance-based tests were administered: Timed Up and Go, 10-Meter Walk Test (comfortable and maximal speeds), and Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test.
• Assessments were repeated across two sessions (7-14 days apart) by two independent raters, analyzed using ANOVA and ICC.

Main Results:

• Outcome scores were similar across one, two, and three repetitions for all tests.
• High to very high test-retest reliability (ICC 0.73–0.96) and inter-rater reliability (ICC 0.84–0.96) were observed for most tests.
• The Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test showed moderate inter-rater reliability (ICC=0.68) for a single repetition.

Conclusions:

• One repetition, following familiarization, is sufficient for consistent and reliable mobility assessment in individuals with Parkinson's disease.
• This finding simplifies the administration of key mobility tests for PD patients.
• The study supports the use of single-repetition measures for efficient and reliable functional mobility evaluation in PD.