title: Reliability and validity of trunk assessment for people with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Standardized scales are a prerequisite for rehabilitation and research. This study was designed to determine the reliability and validity of scores on items of the trunk assessment of the Melsbroek Disability Scoring Test (MDST) and Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) in people with multiple sclerosis (MS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty people with MS participated in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interrater and test-retest reliability and construct validity were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Kappa and weighted kappa values for the items of the trunk assessment of the MDST ranged from .74 to .95, and the kappa and weighted kappa values for the TIS items ranged from .46 to 1.00. Intraclass correlation coefficients for interrater and test-retest agreement were .93 and .92, respectively, for the trunk assessment of the MDST and .97 and .95, respectively, for the TIS. Bland-Altman analysis showed consistency of scores without observer bias. Construct validity was established.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MDST and TIS provide reliable assessments of the trunk and are valid scales for measuring trunk performance in people with MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Tervuursevest 101, 3001 Leuven, Belgium. geert.verheyden@faber.kuleuven.be
authors.forename: Geert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Verheyden
authors.forename: Godelieve
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nuyens
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nieuwboer
authors.forename: Pol
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Asch
authors.forename: Piet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ketelaer
authors.forename: Willy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: De Weerdt
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013909:Thorax / Q000503:physiopathology*