Introduction:

It is increasingly common to promote physical exercise programs in hemodialysis patients. The physical condition of patients and the result of these programs with different functional tests can be assessed.

Objective:

To assess the reliability in terms of interobserver reliability of functional capacity and muscle strength measurements in hemodialysis patients.

Material and Method:

30 patients on hemodialysis performed several functional tests in two phases: Short Physical Performance Battery, static monopodal equilibrium, Timed Up and Go, Test Sit-to-stand-To-Sit-5, Sit-to-stand-To-Sit-10, Sit-to-stand-To-Sit-60, strength of triceps sural, 6 minutes walking and dynamometry of the hand.

Results:

The intraclass correlation coefficient for interobserver reliability was for the Sit-to-stand-To-Sit-5 test: 0.779; speed in 4 meters: 0.820; Total score Short Physical Performance Battery: 0.807; Sit-to-stand-To-Sit-10: 0.908; Sit-to-stand-To-Sit-60: 0.865; 6 minutes march: 0.897; Monopodal equilibrium: 0.925; Timed Up and Go: 0.918; Right triceps sural force: 0.702; Left triceps sural force: 0.995; Right hand dynamometry with support: 0.952; Left hand dynamometry with support: 0.897; right hand dynamometry without support: 0.973; left hand dynamometry with support: 0.964.

Conclusions:

The interobserver reliability, in most tests is high, so it can be accepted that the assessment of the patient’s functional status and the results of the programs designed to promote the exercise is carried out by different experienced observers, which would facilitate the follow-up of patients.