Intra-rater reliability of the Modified Tardieu Scale in patients with multiple sclerosis.
The reliability of the Modified Tardieu Scale (MTS) has not been examined in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This study aimed to assess intra-rater reliability of the MTS in the assessment of lower limb spasticity in patients with MS. Data from 30 patients with MS (18 women, mean age = 41.5) were used to assess intra-rater reliability. An inexperienced physiotherapist in the scale randomly examined the hip adductors, knee extensors, and ankle plantar flexors on each subject twice with at least a 7-day interval. Kappa statistics (κ) were calculated for MTS quality of muscle reactions. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCagreement) and smallest detectable change (SDC) were calculated for R2, R1, and R2-R1. Qualitative rating of spasticity demonstrated moderate or good agreement, with an overall moderate κ of 0.72. Intra-rater reliability for all angle components of MTS was poor to good (ICCagreementrange 0.45-0.83). The SDC for all the MTS components across the muscle groups was unacceptably large (range 14.6-55.6). Results did not establish good intra-rater reliability for the MTS when assessing lower limb muscle spasticity in patients with MS by a physiotherapist with no previous experience in the scale and with limited training.
Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Enghelab Ave, Pitch-e-shemiran, 11489, Tehran, Iran.
Soofia
S
Naghdi
Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Enghelab Ave, Pitch-e-shemiran, 11489, Tehran, Iran. nakhostin@sina.tums.ac.ir.
Noureddin Nakhostin
NN
Ansari
Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Enghelab Ave, Pitch-e-shemiran, 11489, Tehran, Iran.
Sedighe
S
Ghorbani-Rad
Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Enghelab Ave, Pitch-e-shemiran, 11489, Tehran, Iran.
Maryam
M
Senobari
Sina MS Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mohammad Ali
MA
Sahraian
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000379:methods*; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
Lower limb; Modified Tardieu Scale; Multiple sclerosis; Rehabilitation; Reliability; Spasticity