title: Validity and reliability of assessment tools for measuring unsupported sitting in people with a spinal cord injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop simple tests to assess the abilities of people with spinal cord injury (SCI) to sit unsupported and to assess the construct validity and test-retest reliability of these tests.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional comparisons, convenience sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biomechanical laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  People (N=30) with SCI between the C6 and the L2 level of 2 months to 37 years duration before assessment. The sample was stratified by impairment level (at T8) and time since injury (1 y postinjury).
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  On 2 separate occasions, participants performed tests that measured the distance of upper-body sway and maximal torso leaning, errors made during a coordinated stability task, timed dressing/undressing of the upper body and alternating arm reaching, and percentage change in seated upper body/arm reaching.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All tests showed good construct validity in that they distinguished between participants with higher (C6-T7) and lower (T8-L2) level impairments (P<.05) and between participants with acute (< or =1 y) and chronic (>1 y) lesions (P<.05). The tests also showed good to excellent test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coeffiecient(3,1) range, .51-.91).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These simple and quick-to-administer tests have both construct validity and test-retest reliability. They would be appropriate for research and clinical purposes to quantify the abilities of people with SCI to sit unsupported.
authors.affiliation: Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, University of New South Wales, Randwick, Australia. c.boswell-ruys@powmri.edu.au
authors.forename: Claire L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Boswell-Ruys
authors.forename: Daina L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Sturnieks
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sherrington
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Middleton
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lord
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D004856:Postural Balance; D011187:Posture; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D055815:Young Adult