Concurrent Validity and Test–Retest Reliability of the 3-Meter Backward Walk Test in Stroke Survivors

Abstract

In the context of evaluating physical function in individuals with stroke, the 3-Meter Backward Walk Test (3MBWT) emerges as a potential tool of interest. The purpose of this study was to assess the test–retest reliability and concurrent validity of the 3MBWT and its correlation with falling incidents. Conducted in a neurological rehabilitation center, 35 ambulatory individuals with stroke were enrolled within a month post-stroke onset. These participants, with a Functional Ambulation Category score of ≥4, underwent the 3MBWT, Functional Gait Assessment (FGA), 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT), and 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) under the supervision of different physiotherapists. The results indicate that the 3MBWT demonstrated high reliability, with an Intraclass Correlation Coefficient of 0.97 (95% CI: 0.95, 0.98). It also showed significant concurrent validity with other established walking tests like the 6MWT (r = −0.78) and 10MWT (r = 0.71), with a moderate correlation with the FGA (r = −0.54). No marked differences in test outcomes were observed between participants based on their fall history. Conclusively, the 3MBWT proves to be highly reliable and agrees well with existing walking function assessments for stroke patients, suggesting its potential as a time-efficient alternative.