Background/purpose: Five-times-sit-to-stand test (FTSST) is a reliable tool for measuring lower limb functional strength and balance ability. However, reports of the reliability of FTSST in children with cerebral palsy have been scarce. The purposes of this study were (1) to investigate the test-retest and inter-rater reliability of the FTSST and (2) to investigate the correlation between the FTSST and standard functional balance tests in children with cerebral palsy.
Study design: Cross-sectional study.
Materials and methods: Thirty-three school children aged from 6 to 18 years with Gross motor functional classification system expanded and revised version (GMFCS-E&R) level I to III were recruited. Reliability of the FTSST and concurrent validity between FTSST and Timed up and go test (TUG) and Berg balance scale (BBS) were determined using the Pearson product moment correlation.
Results: The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) for test-retest and inter-rater reliability of FTSST were 0.91 and 0.88 respectively. FTSST showed moderate correlation with TUG (r = 0.552, P < 0.01) and with BBS (r = -0.561, P < 0.01).
Conclusion: FTSST is a reliable assessment tool and correlates with functional balance ability tests in children with mild to moderate cerebral palsy.