Reliability and validity of trunk assessment for people with multiple sclerosis.
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.
Verheyden
Geert
G
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Tervuursevest 101, 3001 Leuven, Belgium. geert.verheyden@faber.kuleuven.be
Nuyens
Godelieve
G
Nieuwboer
Alice
A
Van Asch
Pol
P
Ketelaer
Piet
P
De Weerdt
Willy
W
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*