• Ramalho RB
• Montilha VBV
• Casonato NA
• Mattiello SM
• Selistre LFA

• Observer Variation
• Osteoarthritis, Knee / diagnosis
• Reproducibility of Results

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the intra and inter-rater reliability, standard error of measurement (SEM) and the smallest detectable change (SDC) of the tests recommended by Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) for patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

Methods: Thirty participants with KOA were evaluated by 3 raters in 2 sessions with 1 week interval. Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability were calculated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for the following tests: 30s Chair Stand Test (30sCST),40m Fast Paced Walk Test (40mFPWT), and 11-Step Climb Test (11-step SCT). The SEM and SDC were calculated for all the tests.

Results: The inter-rater reliability was excellent (ICC > 0.90) for the 40mFPWT, 11-step SCT and moderate reliability (ICC > 0.70) for the 30s CST. The intra-rater reliability was excellent (ICC>0.90) for the 40m FPWT, 11-step SCT and moderate (ICC > 0.70) for the 30s CST. The inter-rater SEM and SDC, respectively, were 1.2 and 3.3 for the 30s CST, 2.5 and 7.0 for the 40m FPWT, 4.5 and 12.6 for the 11-step SCT. The intra-rater SEM and SDC were calculated for all the tests.

Conclusion: The core set minimum of functional tests recommended by OARSI is reliable and demonstrates acceptable measurement error indicating they are appropriate to detect real change over assessments in individuals with knee osteoarthritis.

Author keywords: Osteoarthritis, Knee; Outcome Measurement Error; Reproducibility of Results

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