The reliability and validity of the cone evasion walk test in patients with hip osteoarthritis

Background: Hip osteoarthritis (OA) can result in joint pain, stiffness, compromised balance, hindered mobility, and decreased functional independence. The Cone Evasion Walk Test (CEW) was designed for evaluating balance by evaluating the capacity to evade obstacles. Consequently, the study’s objective was to assess the validity and reliability of the CEW in hip OA patients. Methods: A total of 24 patients with hip OA were enrolled. Patients performed trials for the CEW and the timed up and go test (TUG). Between the trials, patients rested for an hour. The falls within the previous 12-month period were reported. Results: The analysis showed that the CEW has excellent reliability and high validity in hip OA. ( p < 0.001). The relative (intraclass correlation [ICC] coefficient) and absolute (SEM and SRD95) reliability of the CEW were 0.96 (0.88–0.98 95% CI), 0.56, and 1.54, respectively. The Spearman correlation coefficient between the CEW and the TUG was 0.74 ( p < 0.001) and between the CEW and the falls in the last 12 months was 0.51 ( p > 0.05). Conclusions: The CEW is effective for evaluating the function, dynamic balance, and mobility in patients with hip OA and could be a more accurate measure of the dynamic balance activities in the community.