• Soraia Ferreira, Armando Raimundo, and José Marmeleira.
• Departamento de Desporto e Saúde, Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade de Évora, Rua de Reguengos de Monsaraz, n° 14, 7005-399, Évora, Portugal. sdpf@uevora.pt.
• Ir J Med Sci. 2021 Nov 1; 190 (4): 1625-1632.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the absolute and relative test-retest reliability of the functional reach test (FRT) and the handgrip strength test (HGST) in older adults using nursing homes.MethodsParticipants (≥ 65 years old), living in nursing homes or using their day care services, were distributed into a group without cognitive impairment (GWCI, n = 43) and a group with mild cognitive impairment (GCI; n = 22). A 1-week test-retest was performed for the FRT and the HGST. Relative reliability was measured by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC3.1), and absolute reliability by the standard error of measurement (SEM), minimal detectable change (MDC95), and Bland-Altman plots.ResultsThe ICC showed high reliability for the FRT (GWCI, ICC = 0.83; GCI, ICC = 0.87) and the HGST (ICC ≥ 0.95 in both hands and participant groups). The absolute reliability was good: FRT, SEM = 2.96/2.29, MDC95 = 8.20/6.35 for the GWCI and the GCI, respectively; HGST dominant hand SEM = 1.26/0.82, MDC95 = 3.50/2.29, and HGST non-dominant hand SEM = 1.05/0.80, MDC95 = 2.90/2.21, for the GWCI and the GCI, respectively. Bland-Altman showed that there was not a systematic bias for the tests in both groups.DiscussionFindings show that the FRT and the HGST are reliable, have acceptable measurement error, and may be used for research and clinical purposes to assess functional balance and strength of the hands in older adults using nursing homes.© 2021. Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland.

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