Validity and Reliability of The 3-Meter Backward Walk Test in Individuals With Lower Limb Amputation

Validity of 3 Meter Backward Test in Individuals With Amputations

Clinicians are routinely required to make decisions about fall risk among lower limb prosthesis users. For these decisions, clinicians should use valid, reliable, quantitative, and multidimensional measures of balance test for individuals with lower-limb amputations. The objective of this study was therefore to establish, validity and reliability for 3 meter backward tests administered to established unilateral lower-limb amputations. This study included a total of 30 lower limb amputees [age (18-65) years]. 3 Meter Backward Walking Test, Rivermead Mobility Index, Timed Up and Go test (TUG) was applied to the patients. The second evaluation (retest) was carried out by the same physiotherapist two days following the first evaluation (test) in order to measure test-retest reliability.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Lower Limb Amputation Below Knee (Injury); Lower Limb Amputation Knee
• Intervention / Treatment: Diagnostic test: 3 meter backward walk test

Detailed Description

Lower limb amputees (LLA) were recruited from local prosthetic clinics. The inclusion criteria were as follows: unilateral transtibial or transfemoral amputation due to traumatic, dysvascular, or oncologic causes, 18 years of age or older, one or more years of using a prosthesis (i.e., established users), and could walk independently for minimum 10 m). Patients unable to ambulate at least 10 m without an upper extremity assistive device (e.g., cane), have an orthopedic or neurological disease that might influence balance, with complications to their contralateral leg (e.g., joint replacement, arthritis, or wounds), have the severe vision and hearing impairment, amputation of a second limb and individuals with stump wounds and gait problems were not enrolled in the research. This study was conducted as a "test-retest" design and the psychometric properties of the 3-m backward walk test were examined in LLA. The Rivermead Mobility Index, 3-m backward walk test, Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up, and Go test was applied to the patients. An experienced physiotherapist performed all these tests. In order to measure test-retest reliability, the second evaluations (retest) were carried out by the same physiotherapist two days following the first evaluation (test). The same evaluator collected data in order to avoid the inter-rater variability error rate between the evaluations. The patient was evaluated at one time of the day for test and retest.

Participants were asked to walk backward within the 3-meter distance marked with black bands on the floor. Participants were asked to walk backward as soon as possible with the "walk" command, to stop at the end of 3 meters, and the elapsed time was recorded in seconds.

Individuals were allowed to look back if they wanted to. To prevent the individual from falling during walking backward and to support the individual, the physiotherapist who made the evaluation walked with an amputee. Measurements were made 3 times and the average time was recorded. During walking backward, there is a greater feeling of insecurity compared to walking forward and causes fear of falling. Therefore, the therapist stood approximately half a meter behind the patient during the test.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Ankara, Turkey, 06018
    • Tezel Yıldırım Şahan

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• unilateral transtibial or transfemoral amputation due to traumatic, dysvascular, or oncologic causes,
• 18 years of age or older,
• one or more years of using a prosthesis (i.e., established users),
• could walk independently for a minimum of 10 m).

Exclusion Criteria:

• ambulate at least 10 m without an upper extremity assistive device (e.g., cane),
• have an orthopedic or neurological disease that might influence balance,
• with complications to their contralateral leg (e.g., joint replacement, arthritis, or wounds),
• have severe vision and hearing impairment,
• amputation of a second limb and individuals with stump wounds and gait problems

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: validity and reliability of 3 meter backward walking test; This study was conducted as "test-retest" design and the psychometric properties of 3-m backward walk test were examined in LLA. The Rivermead Mobility Index, 3-m backward walk test, Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go test were applied to the patients. An experienced physiotherapist performed all these tests. In order to measure test-retest reliability, the second evaluations (retest) were carried out by the same physiotherapist two days following the first evaluation (test). A same evaluator collected data in order to avoid the inter-rater variability error rate between the evaluations. The patient was evaluated at one time of the day for test and retest.

Diagnostic test: 3 meter backward walk test; validity and reliability of 3-meter backward walk test in lower limb amputation group

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
validity and reliability of 3 meter backward walking test in lower limb amputees	validity and reliability	4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Tezel Yıldırım Şahan

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Abit Kocaman A, Aydoğan Arslan S, Uğurlu K, Katırcı Kırmacı Zİ, Keskin ED. Validity and Reliability of The 3-Meter Backward Walk Test in Individuals with Stroke. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2021 Jan;30(1):105462. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2020.105462. Epub 2020 Nov 13.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 5, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 10, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): October 30, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 15, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 15, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): October 27, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 16, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 15, 2022
• Last Verified: March 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: validity; reliability; lower limb amputee; fall; backward walking
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2021/298

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No