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Background Measurements of cardiorespiratory fitness are mandatory after a stroke. The 6-min step test emerges as an alternative method in absence of maximal tests.Objective To provide information regarding the measurement properties of the 6-min step test in individuals with chronic stroke.Methods A cross-sectional, methodological study was conducted. Participants were individuals with stroke, who performed the 6-min step test and the 6-min walk test for calculation of measurement properties and comparison purposes. Outcomes of interest were test-retest and inter-rater reliability, measurement error, minimal detectable change, construct validity, criterion validity by video, intra-rater and inter-rater reliability by video.Results Fifty individuals with chronic stroke were included. The 6-min step test had a very-high test-retest (ICC 0.98; CI 95% 0.97–0.99) and inter-rater reliability (ICC 0.95; CI 95% 0.92–0.97). The test’s measurement error was 4(5%) and the minimal detectable change was 11 repetitions. The correlation between the 6-min step test and the 6-min walk test suggested high construct validity (r = 0.79; CI 0.66–0.89). In addition, the 6-min step test by video had comparable results with the in-person administration with very high criterion validity (r = 1.00; CI 95% 1.00–1.00),intra-rater (ICC = 1.00; CI 95% 1.00–1.00) and inter-rater reliability (ICC = 1.00; CI 95% 1.00–1.00).Conclusion The 6-min step test has appropriate measurement properties to estimate cardiorespiratory fitness in individuals with chronic stroke. Moreover, the video administration of the 6-min step test produced comparable results with the in-person administration.
Boening et al. (Thu,) studied this question.