Validation of a lateropulsion scale for patients recovering from stroke.
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.
D'Aquila
Michael A
MA
Mercy College School of Allied Health, Dobbs Ferry, New York, USA.
Smith
Teresa
T
Organ
Debbie
D
Lichtman
Steven
S
Reding
Michael
M
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation