Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in the Four Square Step Test (FSST) for patients with degenerative spinal conditions before and after a six-week group-based physiotherapy programme. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of a longitudinal cohort study. SETTING: Physiotherapy department within a specialised orthopaedic hospital in the UK. PARTICIPANTS: Men and women with degenerative spinal conditions. INTERVENTIONS: All participants had a routine care package of up to six group-based physiotherapy led exercise and education sessions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: An anchor-based approach using a self-report outcome measure (Activities-specific Balance Confidence [ABC] Scale) was utilised as a comparator to determine the MCID of the FSST. The MCID for the FSST was calculated as the difference in mean change scores from those who improved on the ABC Scale against those who did not improve (based on the standard error of measurement of the ABC Scale). RESULTS: Twenty-eight participants with degenerative spinal conditions (19 female) had a mean age of 73 years (SD 7.7). The mean ABC Scale scores for the whole sample were 61% (SD 19.1) at baseline and 66% (SD 18.3) post-physiotherapy. The mean FSST scores for the whole sample were 19.1seconds (SD 9.8) at baseline and 13.9seconds (SD 6.3) post-physiotherapy. The MCID for the FSST was 3.6seconds. CONCLUSIONS: The MCID for improvement in balance was 3.6seconds, indicating people with degenerative spinal conditions are likely to perceive an improvement of ≥3.6seconds in their FSST score as an important change in their balance performance and confidence.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.physio.2021.04.001

Type

Journal article

Journal

Physiotherapy

Publication Date

06/2022

Volume

115

Pages

58 - 60

Keywords

Degenerative spinal conditions, Minimal clinically important difference, Outcome assessment, Aged, Exercise Test, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Minimal Clinically Important Difference, Physical Therapy Modalities, Postural Balance