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Psychometric properties of the timed backward walk test in people with stroke
Yu Qin1, Siyue Li1, Peiming Chen1
1Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Objective:
To examine the psychometric properties of the Timed Backward Walk test in people with stroke.
Design:
Cross-sectional study.
Subjects:
60 people with stroke and 30 healthy adults aged 55 years and older.
Methods:
Participants performed the Timed Backward Walk test and standard clinical assessments. Discriminative validity was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curve. Reliability (one-week test-retest, inter-rater, intra-rater) was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients. Construct validity was examined through correlations with motor function, strength, balance, and gait measures.
Results:
People with chronic stroke took significantly longer to complete the test than healthy adults (p < 0.001), with an area under the curve of 0.968 and an optimal cut-off of 7.22 s. Test-retest, inter-rater, and intra-rater reliability were all excellent. The standard error of measurement was 1.62 s and the minimal detectable change was 4.49 s. The complete time showed strong positive correlations with functional mobility and gait speed measures (ρ = 0.840-0.897) and moderate negative correlations with balance, lower-limb motor function, and ankle dorsiflexor strength (ρ = -0.408 to -0.647). The Timed Backward Walk test demonstrated excellent reliability, discriminative validity, and construct validity in people with chronic stroke. It is a feasible and sensitive complement to forward gait assessments.
