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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
Motor Dual-Tasks for Gait Analysis and Evaluation in Post-Stroke Patients
Published on: March 11, 2021
Psychometric properties of the STEP (step-tibia-events-phases) test: an instrument for assessing gait performance in
Youngkeun Woo1, Hyesun Hwang2, Sanghyun Moon3
1Department of Physical Therapy, College of Medical Sciences, Jeonju University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.
Purpose:
This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the step-tibia-events-phases (STEP) test, a newly developed instrument for assessing gait performance in individuals with stroke, and to determine optimal cutoff scores for clinical applications.
Methods:
A total of 103 individuals with stroke participated in the study. Participants completed the STEP test to assess gait performance, followed by five clinical measures: the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, Five Times Sit-to-Stand test, One-Leg Stand test, and Mini-Mental State Examination. Reliability was examined using Cronbach's α and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC2,1), and construct validity was also analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were conducted to determine the optimal cutoff scores.
Results:
The STEP test demonstrated good internal consistency and excellent interrater reliability for the total score. It showed strong correlations with the 10MWT and TUG. Statistical cutoff scores distinguishing household ambulation (<0.4 m/s) and community ambulation (<0.8 m/s) with lower fall-risk potential were identified as 14.50 and 21.50 points, respectively.
Conclusions:
The STEP test is a reliable and valid tool for evaluating gait and balance in individuals with stroke. A score of ≥ 15 may indicate the capacity for indoor ambulation, whereas a score of ≥ 22 may indicate the potential for independent community ambulation and correspond to a lower fall-risk classification based on TUG performance.
