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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between objective measures are self-reports of physical function in individuals with the late sequelae of poliomyelitis. Physical therapists often use exercise tests to assess an individual's level of physical function, as well as to guide exercise prescription and treatment planning. However, little is known about the relationship between an objective measurement of physical function based on an exercise test and an individual's self-report of his or her physical function, which can be assessed using questionnaires on health status. We, therefore, studied the interrelationships within and between two objective measures and two self-report measures of physical function in individuals with the late sequelae of poliomyelitis. A nonexperimental research design was used to correlate the objective measures with the two self-reports of physical function. The two objective measures of physical function were the 6-minute walk distance (6-MWD) and the cardiorespiratory conditioning index (CRCI) based on a steady-rate walking test. Self-reports of physical function were assessed using the physical dimension score of the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP) and the Short Form-36 (SF-36). Seventeen subjects (mean age 53.9 + 7.2) were tested over three sessions and completed a total of three 6-MWD tests, a practice session of treadmill walking, a steady-rate walking test used to derive the CRCI, one SIP, and one SF-36 health status measure. The 6-MWD was found to be significantly correlated with both the physical dimension score of the SIP (r=-0.57; p