Standardized Measurement in Physical Therapy and Evidence-Based Practice

Vocabulary flashcards covering standardized measurement tools, statistical metrics, and core concepts of evidence-based practice in physical therapy.

Evidence-Based Physical Therapy Practice

Open and thoughtful clinical decision making about physical therapy management that integrates the best possible evidence with clinical judgement and patient preferences and values, considering the larger social context to optimize patient outcomes.

Operational Definitions

A set of procedures that guide the process of taking a measurement.

Cut-Off Score

A score that designates a positive or negative test outcome, used to classify individuals into specific clinical or risk groups.

Sensitivity

The ability of a measurement tool or test to detect any change.

Responsiveness

The ability of an instrument to measure clinically meaningful or important changes.

Minimal Detectable Change (MDC)

The smallest amount of difference or change that a measurement instrument can detect.

Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID)

The smallest amount of change in an outcome measure that is considered functionally important or meaningful to the patient.

Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale

A self-reported questionnaire where patients rate their balance confidence from $0$ to $100\%$ across 16 different functional activities.

Timed Up and Go (TUG)

A mobility test where a patient stands from a chair, walks $10\,\text{feet}$, turns around, walks back $10\,\text{feet}$, and sits down while being timed.

TUG (cognitive)

A dual-task variation of the Timed Up and Go test where the patient performs the test while counting backwards by 3s from a randomly selected number between $20$ and $100$.

TUG (manual)

A dual-task variation of the Timed Up and Go test where the patient performs the walk while carrying a cup of water.

10 Meter Walk Test (10MWT)

An outcome measure assessing gait speed by timing a patient walking a set distance, incorporating acceleration and deceleration zones outside the assessed $10\,\text{m}$ section.

6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT)

A submaximal exercise test measuring endurance and gait speed by recording total distance covered, rest breaks, pulse, and Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) over $6\,\text{minutes}$.

Berg Balance Scale (BBS)

A 14-item performance measure designed to assess static and dynamic balance and fall risk in adults, scored on a scale from $0$ to $56$ without assistive device use.

MOS 20-Item Short-Form Health Survey (MOS SF 20)

A 20-item patient-reported survey assessing health-related quality of life over the preceding $4\,\text{weeks}$ across six domains: Physical Functioning, Role Functioning, Social Functioning, Mental Health, Health Perception, and Pain.