Tests for physical function of the elderly with knee and hip osteoarthritis

Abstract

This study reports the results of a battery of physical function tests used to assess physical function of older patients with clinical knee and/or hip osteoarthritis (OA), and the correlation to the WOMAC Index (disease-specific questionnaire). A total of 106 sedentary subjects, aged >60 years (mean 69.4, S.D. 5.9) with hip and/or knee OA (mean 12.2 yrs, S.D. 11.0) participated in the study. Mobility, joint flexibility and muscle strength were evaluated by recording time to: walk a distance of 8', ascend/descend 4 stairs, rise from/sit down from a chair (5 times). Hip/knee flexion and isometric quadriceps strength were also measured. Categories of performance were formed by dividing data into quartiles for each test (1=highest, 4=lowest score, 5=unable to complete) and, by summing the category scores, a total summary score (TSS) was obtained. The battery of physical function tests showed an acceptable test-retest reliability (ICC of all tasks > or =0.80) and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha > or =0.80). Performance scores on walking, stair climb, chair-rise and ROM of affected OA joints were significantly correlated with each other, and with the WOMAC Index (P<0.05, Spearman's correlation). Lower scores on the TSS were associated with lower scores on all the WOMAC Index items (P<0.001). This study shows that a simple battery of physical function tests in combination with the WOMAC Index are reliable and may be useful outcome measures in the evaluation of therapeutic interventions and geriatric rehabilitation.

Improving patients’ experience and outcome of total joint replacement: the RESTORE programme

“…These findings are consistent with previous research which found moderate to strong (> 0.4) correlations with the WOMAC function and stair climbing, walking or the get-up-and-go test. [319][320][321][322][323] Moderate to strong correlations have also been reported pre-operatively between the WOMAC function and the HHS or its components, 319,321,324 and small to moderate correlations have been found between the WOMAC function and the AKSS. 319,325,326 Our finding of a strong relationship between the Ab-A and WOMAC function score is not surprising as the Ab-A is based on several items of the WOMAC.…”

“…Previous studies have arrived at discordant conclusions about the relationship between function and ROM. Some reports suggest that ROM is an important determinant of function 321,329 while others disagree. 317,338 Furthermore, it is suggested that ROM is important for some specific functions, or that a threshold of around 95-100°of flexion is required for adequate function.…”

Assessment of physical function and participation in chronic pain clinical trials: IMMPACT/OMERACT recommendations

“…Table 6. Functional Assessment System (FAS) 140 Lin battery 115 Steultjens battery 174 Stratford battery 177 Site-specific physical functioning…”

A Comparison of 3 Methodological Approaches to Defining Major Clinically Important Improvement of 4 Performance Measures in Patients With Hip Osteoarthritis

“…10 Investigation of minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs) of physical performance measures is warranted, as these have become commonly used outcome measures in the treatment of OA. 8,12,17,[35][36][37] At present, the responsiveness (in terms of MCID) of the timed up-and-go (TUG) test, 40-meter self-paced walk test (40-m SPWT), 30-second chair stand (30 CST), and 20-cm step test has not been investigated in T T STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. …”