Development of the “10-second Open-Close Stepping Test” (OCS-10) and Fundamental Study of Its Measurement Values through a Comparison of Healthy Young People and Community-Dwelling Elderly

[Purpose] The “10-second Open-Close Stepping Test” (OCS-10) is simple, can be conducted anywhere, and requires no special equipment. In order to use the OCS-10 for the elderly, its reliability and characteristics for younger individuals and the elderly were examined. [Subjects] Younger subjects were 27 individuals (young group). Elderly subjects were 29 individuals under age 75 (young old group) and 34 individuals over age 75 (old old group) who could walk without assistance. [Methods] The OCS-10 was performed twice with an interval of 30 seconds between, and the measurement values were recorded. To compare measurement values among the young group, young old group and old old group, the best results from the 2 rounds of testing were used in analysis. The test duration was 10 seconds. [Results] The ICCs for each group were 0.93, 0.89, and 0.84 for the young group, young old group, and old old group, respectively. [Conclusion] The OCS-10 provides consistent measurement values for both younger individuals and the elderly, though the results are more consistent in younger individuals. In addition, the OCS-10 should allow accurate discernment of a decline in physical functions due to aging and accompanying loss of agility.