[P3-0792] Proposition of an easy and simple method to distinguish a cane-user
Keywords:cane, gait disorder, balance function
【Purpose】
There has been no prescription standard although a cane is one of the most popular walking aids. Therefore creating an objective prescription standard of a cane is very helpful for almost all physiotherapists；it is still better if the method is easy and simple. Cane-users have poor balance function；especially, they were inferior to non-users in turning 360 degrees（turning）and reaching forward while standing（reaching）. Two items, i.e. turning and reaching, must be a good method to distinguish cane-users from non-users. The aim of present study was to examine how useful an easy and simple method to discriminate cane-users has been.
【Methods】
Subjects were 66 subacute inpatients with gait disorder（39 cane-users）. One week before discharge hospital, their balance function（turning and reaching）was evaluated by sub-item of Berg balance scale. Area under curve（AUC）was calculated by receiver-operating characteristic（ROC）curve. Sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio and odds ratio were calculated when cutoff value was the point that has made AUC maximum. All statistical analysis was calculated by the R foundation for statistical computing version 2.8.1.
【Results】
Each result was following：AUC 0.81（95%CI 0.71-0.91）, cutoff value 6, sensitivity 71.8%, specificity 81.5%, positive likelihood ratio 3.88 and odds ratio 11.2.
【Discussion】
Turning and reaching would be enough as an easy and simple method to distinguish a cane-user. Prescription of a cane has so far been subjectively performed based on each physiotherapist’s experience. This easy and simple method will make it possible for almost all physiotherapists to judge objectively whether a patient needs a cane.
There has been no prescription standard although a cane is one of the most popular walking aids. Therefore creating an objective prescription standard of a cane is very helpful for almost all physiotherapists；it is still better if the method is easy and simple. Cane-users have poor balance function；especially, they were inferior to non-users in turning 360 degrees（turning）and reaching forward while standing（reaching）. Two items, i.e. turning and reaching, must be a good method to distinguish cane-users from non-users. The aim of present study was to examine how useful an easy and simple method to discriminate cane-users has been.
【Methods】
Subjects were 66 subacute inpatients with gait disorder（39 cane-users）. One week before discharge hospital, their balance function（turning and reaching）was evaluated by sub-item of Berg balance scale. Area under curve（AUC）was calculated by receiver-operating characteristic（ROC）curve. Sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio and odds ratio were calculated when cutoff value was the point that has made AUC maximum. All statistical analysis was calculated by the R foundation for statistical computing version 2.8.1.
【Results】
Each result was following：AUC 0.81（95%CI 0.71-0.91）, cutoff value 6, sensitivity 71.8%, specificity 81.5%, positive likelihood ratio 3.88 and odds ratio 11.2.
【Discussion】
Turning and reaching would be enough as an easy and simple method to distinguish a cane-user. Prescription of a cane has so far been subjectively performed based on each physiotherapist’s experience. This easy and simple method will make it possible for almost all physiotherapists to judge objectively whether a patient needs a cane.