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Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Abstract

Background : Functional reach test (FRT), a clinical balance measurement, isused to detect the limit of stability. Performing FRT measurecould be in expedient due to the needs to obtain accuratereach distance and cautiousness of high susceptibility to fall.To overcome these occurrences a modified instrument whichwas easy to read value, adjustable, foldable, and movable hasbeen developedObjective : To investigate the validity, intra- and inter-rater reliability ofthe modified instrument for FRT.Setting : Phranungklao Hospital Elderly Club, National Stadium.Population sample : Fifteen elderly and 15 young adults; all were healthy volunteers.Research Methodology : Participants were randomized to perform both the traditionalFRT and the modified FRT instrument on the same day. Datawere obtained by having the participants complete the protocol.Each participant was asked to perform three trials in one session,for two sessions. Mean reaching distance of the three trialswas analyzed. Intra-class correlation-coefficient (ICC) wasused to evaluate intra-and inter-rater reliability. Mean reachingdistance of three trials was analyzed. The modified FRTinstrument was correlated with traditional FRT using Pearson rcorrelation.Results : This study demonstrates high inter-rater- reliability (ICC 2, 3=0.78 - 0.94) and high intra-rater (ICC 3, 2 = 0.77-0.97), with highcorrelation (Pearson r = 0.79). The standard error of measurementwas 0.42 - 0.46 inchesConclusions The modified instrument more comfortable use of measuringmethod for accurate results and allows measurer to be cautiousonly on susceptibility to fall.

Publisher

Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University

First Page

13

Last Page

22

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