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Reliability of the 3-Meter Backwards Walk Test in Patients with Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty
Bayram Unver1, Kevser Sevik Kacmaz2, Vasfi Karatosun3
1Dokuz Eylul University, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Turkey, Izmir.
Background:
The 3-Meter Backwards Walk Test (3MBWT) evaluates walking skills, fall risk, and dynamic balance. The study aimed to determine the intra-day test-retest reliability and minimal detectable change to the 3MBWT in patients undergoing revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA).
Methods:
This study employed a cross-sectional design. A consecutive sample of 31 patients with rTKA, all operated on by the same surgeon, were enrolled in the study. Patients performed 3MBWT trials on two occasions on the same day. To mitigate fatigue-related effects on the results, they were given a one-hour seated rest period between the two trials.
Results:
The 3MBWT has excellent intra-day test-retest reliability. The intraclass correlation coefficient for the 3MBWT is 0.97. The standard error of measurement and the minimal detectable change at the 95% confidence level (MDC95) for the 3MBWT are 0.83 and 2.30, respectively.
Conclusions:
The 3MBWT demonstrates excellent intra-day test-retest reliability in patients with rTKA. It is a reliable and effective instrument for assessing fall risk, dynamic balance, and ambulatory capabilities. The 3MBWT can be seamlessly integrated into routine medical evaluations. An MDC95 value of 2.30 sec may help clinicians to interpret whether an observed change exceeds measurement error. This test is suitable for detecting nuanced changes in walking proficiency, fall risk, and dynamic balance in patients with rTKA.
