Correlation of Four-Square Step Test with Timed Up and Go Test in Chronic Stroke Patients

Abstract

Background & Purpose: To find whether four square step test has a statistically significant correlation with timed up and go test or not in case of ambulant    chronic stroke patients.

Subjects: Twenty-seven chronic stroke patients with mean age 58.70 ± 6.75 years participated in the study. The mean time from stroke was 26.48 ± 12.73 months, and all subjects were community ambulators.

Methods: The study used a Co relational study design. Subjects performed both four square step test with timed up and go test at different timing of day.

Result: The result of our study showed highly significant correlation between four square step test and timed up & go test (r = .983,p<0.05) in chronic stroke patient.

Discussion & Conclusion: The FSST is easy to perform and provide a quantitative measure of the ability to quickly change direction while lifting the feet off the ground. The FSST assess the ability to change direction quickly and it takes minimum space and time to administer the test. Hence, the Four Square Step Test is better test to measure dynamic balance in ambulatory chronic stroke patients. 

Keywords: Chronic Stroke, Dynamic balance, FSST and TUG