[Purpose] This study aimed to establish gender-specific reference values for the Y Balance Test (YBT) and the Arabic version of the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS-Ar) in healthy young adults in Saudi Arabia, and to examine gender differences in the YBT and LEFS-Ar values. [Subjects and Methods] Healthy young adults (31 females, 30 males) completed the YBT and LEFS-Ar in 1 test session. Descriptive statistical analysis (mean, standard deviation, 95% confidence interval) was used to compute the YBT and LEFS-Ar reference values. Independent t-tests were used to examine gender differences in the YBT and LEFS-Ar values. [Results] Gender-specific reference values were obtained for the right, left, dominant, and non-dominant leg as well as for the average performance of both the legs. males showed greater YBT normalized reach distances than females did in the anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions; furthermore, males showed higher YBT composite scores than females did. However, the LEFS-Ar values did not differ between males and females. [Conclusion] Gender-specific reference values were obtained for the YBT and LEFS-Ar in healthy young adults in Saudi Arabia. males performed better than females did in the YBT. However, no gender differences were noted in LEFS-Ar.

Background: Because people with total knee arthroplasty (TKA) have persistent functional limitations and disability, identifying modifiable risk factors for persistent disability is warranted. Before surgery, people have pervasive lower extremity muscle weakness. The fact that hip abductor muscle strength is often not targeted in postoperative rehabilitation may contribute to functional limitations. Objective: Study objectives were: (1) to examine the reliability of handheld dynamometry (HHD) for measuring hip abductor strength and (2) to determine whether hip abductor strength contributes to physical function beyond the contribution of quadriceps muscle strength. Design: This was a cross-sectional study. Methods: Two-hundred ten participants underwent quadriceps and hip abductor muscle strength testing and measurement of physical function (performance-based and self-reported outcomes). Correlation and regression equations were built to determine the relationships of strength, pain, and functional ability. A subset of 16 participants underwent hip abductor strength testing at 2 sessions to determine the reliability of the measure. Results: Measuring hip abductor strength with HHD yielded excellent relative reliability, with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC [2,3]) of .95 and a 95% confidence interval of .86 to .98, but moderate absolute reliability, with a minimal detectable change (with 95% confidence) of 47.6 N and a 95% confidence interval of 35.5 to 76.5. Hip abductor strength made a significant additional contribution to performance-based measures of physical function after anthropometric covariates and quadriceps muscle strength were accounted for. Hip abductor strength did not show bivariate correlations with patient-reported measures of physical function and did not contribute to patient-reported physical function after covariates and quadriceps muscle strength were accounted for. Limitations: A cause-and-effect relationship between hip abductor strength and physical function could not be established. Conclusions: In people with unilateral TKA, HHD testing of hip abductor strength is reliable. Hip abductor strength contributes to performance-based but not patient-reported measures of physical function in people with unilateral TKA.

Purpose: The aim was to translate and cross-culturally adapt the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) into Arabic language and to examine its measurement properties in patients with musculoskeletal disorders of the lower extremity. Methods: Standard forward and backward translation followed by expert committee review, then preliminary testing was carried out to produce the final Arabic version of LEFS (LEFS-Ar). The test–retest reliability, measurement error, internal consistency and construct validity of the LEFS-Ar were examined in patients with musculoskeletal disorders of the lower extremity (N = 116). Results: The LEFS-Ar had excellent test–retest reliability (ICC_2,1 = 0.96). LEFS-Ar standard error of measurement was 3.5 points while the minimal detectable change MDC₉₅ was 9.8 points. LEFS-Ar showed excellent internal consistency with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.95. Parallel analysis and factor analysis showed that LEFS-Ar measures one underlying factor with all items loading heavily on this single factor. LEFS-Ar showed significant positive correlation with patient’s global assessment of function (r = 0.59) and that patients recovering from surgery reported lower LEFS-Ar score compared to patients with no surgery further supporting the construct validity of the LEFS-Ar. Conclusion: LEFS-Ar has excellent internal consistency, test–retest reliability with relatively small measurement error and is a valid measure of activity limitation due to lower extremity musculoskeletal disorders. All these measurement properties of the LEFS-Ar suggest the clinical usefulness of this measure.

The purpose of this study was to translate and cross-culturally adapt the UEFI into Modern Standard Arabic language and to examine its psychometric properties among patients with upper extremity mu...