Investigation of the validity and reliability of the short physical performance battery in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty

ABSTRACT

Background

Practical, applicable, valid, and reliable tools are needed to assess physical performance in patients with Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) in a variety of settings, including routine clinical assessment, research studies, and community-based programs.

Objective

The aim of this study is to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) among patients with TKA.

Methods

We included 45 patients who underwent TKA surgery (mean age 68.89 ± 9.26). The SPPB, Timed up and go (TUG) test and, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) Knee Score were administered to the patients. SPPB was performed twice on the same day with 1 h rest.

Results

The ICC_(2,1) coefficient, MDC₉₅ and SEM values were 0.97, 1.02 and 0.37 respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficient of the SPPB with the TUG and HSS was −.78, and 0.74 respectively.

Conclusion

SPPB has excellent reliability, and strong validity in assessing physical performance in patients with TKA. SPPB can identify even minimal detectable difference in physical performance and can be reliably used to monitor patient outcomes in the postoperative period for a comprehensive assessment of TKA in many physical performance domains, including balance, walking speed, and lower extremity strength.

Clinical Trial Number

NCT06201637

KEYWORDS:

• Total knee arthroplasty
• kee
• short physical performance battery
• validity
• reliability

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.