The Use of a Single-Time Sit-To-Stand Test in Ambulatory Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury by Primary Health Care Providers.

Background: The uncertain health care situations, such as that created by the COVID-19 pandemic, has limited hospital access and facilitated a paradigm shift in health care toward an increased demand for standard home visits and community-based rehabilitation services, including by ambulatory individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Objectives: This 6-month prospective study explored the validity and reliability of a single-time sit-to-stand (STSTS) test when used by primary health care (PHC) providers, including a village health volunteer, caregiver, individual with SCI, and health professional. Methods: Eighty-two participants were assessed for the STSTS using four arm placement conditions (arms on a walking device, arms on knees, arms free by the sides, and arms crossed over the chest) and standard measures, with prospective fall data follow-up over 6 months. Thirty participants involved in the reliability study were also assessed and reassessed for the ability to complete the STSTS conditions by PHC providers. Results: Outcomes of the STSTS test, except the condition with arms on a walking device, could significantly discriminate lower extremity muscle strength (LEMS) and mobility of the participants (rpb = -0.58 to 0.69) with moderate concurrent validity. Outcomes of the tests without using the arms also showed moderate to almost-perfect reliability (kappa = 0.754-1.000) when assessed by PHC raters. Conclusion: The findings suggest the use of an STSTS with arms free by the sides as a standard practical measure by PHC providers to reflect LEMS and mobility of ambulatory individuals with SCI in various clinical, community, and home-based settings.

Validity and feasibility of a seated push-up test to indicate skeletal muscle mass in well-functioning older adults.

INTRODUCTION: Skeletal muscle mass (SMM) is a major component of the human body (> 30% of the body-weight) and plays crucial role in many bodily functions. However, SMM assessments require a complex and costly machine, which delays the ability to detect abnormalities related to SMM decline and, subsequently, reduces the effectiveness of the clinical management of older adults. PURPOSE: This study aimed to: 1) assess the correlation between upper limb loading during a seated push-up test (ULL-SPUT) and SMM (concurrent validity); 2) compare the SMM of participants who passed and failed a seated push-up test (SPUT; discriminant validity); and 3) explore the ability of a failed SPUT to identify older individuals with low SMM. METHODS: Participants (n = 40, age approximately 73 years) were cross-sectionally assessed for their SMM using a portable bioelectrical impedance analysis, and SPUTs were evaluated using digital push-up loading devices that were the size of clinical push-up boards, in three starting positions: 1) high; 2) ring, and 3) long sitting positions. RESULTS: The ULL-SPUT, especially in a ring sitting position, was significantly correlated to SMM (rs = 0.457-0.608, p < .005). The SMM and ULL-SPUT were significantly different between participants who passed and failed the SPUT (p < .05). Failure to complete the SPUT - that is, being unable to lift the body up from the floor during the test - showed an excellent ability to indicate participants with an SMM of < 28% of their body-weight (sensitivity > 83%, specificity > 82%, area under the curve = 0.93). CONCLUSIONS: The inability to lift the body up from the floor during sitting using the upper limbs can be used as a screening tool to indicate those with low SMM. Such a simple screening measure may enhance the distribution of healthcare services across various community- and home-based settings, particularly during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, when hospital services are limited for many individuals, including older adults.

Ability to detect history of falls among individuals with spinal cord injury using upper limb loading during a seated push-up test.

BACKGROUND: A history of falls is an important risk factor for future falls, including for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) who often experience falls and subsequent injuries. This may be even more pronounced during the current COVID-19 pandemic because of the extreme shortage of hospital admission and restricted access to important services. Therefore, the ability of detecting a history of falls that can be applied to wheelchair users and ambulatory individuals with SCI in various settings are essential. AIM: To investigate the discriminative ability of three clinical measures-the handgrip (HG) test, Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM) III and Upper Limb Loading During a Seated Push-Up Test (ULL-SPUT)-in discriminating individuals with SCI with and without a history of falls over the past six months. DESIGN: A 6-month retrospective observational cohort study. SETTING: Inpatient tertiary rehabilitation center. POPULATION: One hundred and fourteen wheelchair users and ambulatory individuals with SCI. METHODS: The participants were interviewed and assessed for their demographics, SCI characteristics and fall data over the past six months, with data confirmation from related events, their caregivers and medical records. Subsequently, they were assessed using the HG test, SCIM III, and ULL-SPUT. RESULTS: In total, 29 participants (25%) fell during the past six months (with the number of falls ranging from 1-20, with minor consequences after the falls). Among the three clinical measures assessed in this study, the ULL-SPUT data of faller participants were significantly higher than those of non-fallers (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The limited rehabilitation length and increased staying home and social isolation prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic may have reduced the fall rates of the participants. The findings suggest a higher likelihood of falls among wheelchair users and ambulatory individuals with SCI who have good mobility as determined using ULL-SPUT data. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: Apart from being an important rehabilitation strategy, the present findings suggest an additional benefit of ULL-SPUT to identify individuals with SCI with a likelihood of future falls. The measurement can be done easily using digital bathroom scales placing over a flat and smooth surface. Therefore, it would enable the timely initiation of fall prevention strategies in various clinical, community, home and research settings; particularly in this COVID-19 pandemic of limited beds and hospital services for these individuals.