Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences Large Type Edition
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]
Author:
 		Keyword(s):
Year:  Vol:  Page: 

This Article
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Cited by other online articles
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Tappen, R. M.
Right arrow Articles by Edelstein, J.
Right arrow Articles citing this Article
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Tappen, R. M.
Right arrow Articles by Edelstein, J.

Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, Vol 52, Issue 1 M52-M55, Copyright © 1997 by The Gerontological Society of America

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Reliability of physical performance measures in nursing home residents with Alzheimer's disease

RM Tappen, KE Roach, D Buchner, C Barry and J Edelstein
College of Nursing, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, USA.

BACKGROUND: Investigation of the effects of exercise on frail, institutionalized individuals with dementia has been impeded by concerns about the reliability of physical performance measures when used in this population. METHODS: The physical performance of 33 institutionalized subjects with Alzheimer's disease was measured during both the morning and afternoon of day 1 by rater 1 and during both the morning and afternoon of day 2, one week later, by rater 1 and rater 2. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated to examine the inter- and intrarater reliability of "sit to stand," "25-foot walk," and "the distance walked in 6 minutes" and walking speed over 25 feet and for 6 minutes. An analysis of variance was performed to determine the components of variance for each test. RESULTS: ICCs for "distance walked in 6 minutes" ranged from .80 to .99 with 77% of the variance explained by inter-subject difference. The ICCs for "time to walk 25 feet" ranged from .57 to .97 with 25% of the variance explained by inter-subject differences. In contrast, the "sit to stand" measure produced ICCs ranging from -.07 to .85 with only 7% of the variance explained by inter-subject differences in this impaired population. CONCLUSION: Our results support the contention that some physical performance measures can be used to test individuals in the later stages of Alzheimer's disease given appropriate modification. Although subjects with Alzheimer's disease may have difficulty following commands and/or require physical assistance, this does not prohibit the reliable assessment of physical performance if measurements are made over longer (6-minute walk) rather than shorter periods (25-foot walk).


This article has been cited by other articles: (Search Google Scholar for Other Citing Articles)


Home page
 GerontologistHome page
E. F. Binder, J. P. Miller, and L. J. Ball
Development of a Test of Physical Performance for the Nursing Home Setting
Gerontologist, October 1, 2001; 41(5): 671 - 679.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med SciHome page
K. B. Gunter, K. N. White, W. C. Hayes, and C. M. Snow
Functional Mobility Discriminates Nonfallers From One-Time and Frequent Fallers
J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., November 1, 2000; 55(11): 672M - 676.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
All GSA journals The Gerontologist
Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
Copyright © 1997 by The Gerontological Society of America.