title: Validation of a lateropulsion scale for patients recovering from stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the validity and reliability of a clinical scale for assessing lateropulsion following stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serial observational study of Lateropulsion Scale scores.
  
  
  METHODS
  Inpatient stroke rehabilitation unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of 85 patients examined 19 +/- 2 SEM days post stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  An empirically derived 17-point Lateropulsion Scale was used to assess and follow postural responses to rolling, sitting, standing, transferring and walking. Intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated by having patients evaluated twice by their primary physical therapist (days 1 and 3), and once by an alternate physical therapist (day 2). Concurrent validity was estimated by computing Spearman's rank order correlations between the lateropulsion score and other markers for motor control dysfunction: Fugl-Meyer balance subscore, the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) mobility subscore, and length of rehabilitation hospital stay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability were r = 0.93 (p < 0.001) and r = 0.94 (p < 0.05), respectively. Concurrent validity estimates showed the initial lateropulsion score to be correlated with the Fugl-Meyer balance subscore (r = -0.57 p < 0.001), with the admission and discharge FIM mobility subscores (r = -0.56, p < 0.0001 and r = -0.58, p < 0.0001), respectively, and with length of rehabilitation hospital stay (r = 0.6, p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Lateropulsion Scale is both a reliable and a valid assessment of lateropulsion following stroke.
authors.affiliation: Mercy College School of Allied Health, Dobbs Ferry, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: D'Aquila
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Organ
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lichtman
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reding
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation