title: Instrument validity and reliability of a choice response time test for subjects with incomplete spinal cord injury: relationship with function.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate instrument validity and reliability of a choice response time (CRT) test for the lower extremities in subjects with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI). CRT in subjects with iSCI is hypothesized to be increased because of, for example, muscle weakness or increased corticospinal conduction velocity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Spinal cord injury center of a university hospital in Switzerland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with iSCI (N=28; mean age, 51y; 57% men; neurologic level, C3-L5; median time since injury, 148d) compared with age-matched controls (50% men) to assess instrument validity by comparing CRTs. A subgroup of subjects with iSCI (n = 9) and controls (n = 13) to determine reliability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  CRTs of the lower extremity were assessed and divided into reaction and movement times. Additionally, subjects with iSCI were tested for lower-extremity muscle strength, gait capacity and mobility, independence, history of falls, and fear of falling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CRTs in the control group (mean ± SD, 517 ± 71 ms) were significantly faster than those in the iSCI group (743 ± 177 ms; P<.001). Retest reliability was high in controls (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]>.98) and subjects with iSCI (ICC>.93). In subjects with iSCI, there were moderate to good correlations between CRT and several functional outcome measures, but not with reported number of falls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower-extremity CRT testing appears reliable in healthy controls and ambulating subjects with iSCI.
authors: Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland. rlabruyere@paralab.balgrist.ch
authors: Rob
authors: R
authors: Labruyère
authors: Hubertus J
authors: HJ
authors: van Hedel
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011930:Reaction Time; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016138:Walking