A study of the reliability and construct validity of the 1-minute sit-to-stand test for individuals with systemic sclerosis

Objective: This study seeks to assess the reliability and construct validity of the 1-minute sit-to-stand test as an efficient tool for evaluating the functional capacity of individuals with systemic sclerosis, considering its time and space effectiveness.
Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited forty-nine individuals with systemic sclerosis from a university hospital in Denmark. The 1-minute sit-to-stand test was conducted twice on the same day, with an interval of approximately 10 to 15 minutes between administrations, followed by a single administration of the 6-minute walk test. Reliability and validity were estimated using Bland-Altman statistics, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC2,1), paired t-test, and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (ρ).
Results: The 1-minute sit-to-stand test exhibited excellent test-retest reliability with an ICC2,1 (CI) of 0.97 (0.95-0.99). The minimal metrically detectable change between separate measures on a subject for the difference in the measures to be considered real at the 95% confidence level was 2.9 repetitions and 11%, respectively. A learning effect of one repetition was observed between repeated measures. High construct validity was observed between the 1-minute sit-to-stand and 6-minute walk test (ρ=0.78, p<0.001).
Conclusions: This study demonstrates the 1-minute sit-to-stand test as highly reliable, with an 11% change indicating a true outcome change. It also demonstrates robust construct validity compared to the 6-minute walk test. The 1-minute sit-to-stand test appears feasible for assessing functional capacity in well-functioning individuals with systemic sclerosis, but prior familiarization with the task is recommended, as a small learning effect was observed with one repetition.