title: Reliability and Validity of the Clinical Measurement of Trunk List in Children and Adolescents With Idiopathic Scoliosis.
abstract: METHODS
  Reliability-validity study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The plumbline is commonly used to evaluate trunk list in a clinical setting. The purpose of this study was to evaluate reliability and validity of the plumbline to measure trunk list in persons with idiopathic scoliosis. Secondary objectives include evaluating effects of foot position on trunk list measurement and evaluating reliability and validity of the trunk list measurement obtained from photographs.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Measurement of trunk list is an important component of posture evaluation. The plumbline is commonly used to evaluate trunk list in a clinical setting. However, information on reliability and validity is lacking.
  
  
  METHODS
  Trunk list was measured on 55 participants with idiopathic scoliosis with plumbline and photographic methods on 2 occasions by the same evaluator. At each occasion, 2 measurements were taken with feet together (FT) and two with feet apart (FA). Trunk list was calculated on radiographs taken that day. Generalizability theory was used to estimate the reliability and standard error of measurement (SEM) for the overall, test-retest and inter-trials designs. Pearson correlation coefficients (r) were used to assess validity of trunk list compared with the radiographic method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plumbline measurement demonstrated high test-retest reliability (FT: ϕ = .98 and SEM = 2.0-2.2 mm; FA: ϕ = .98, SEM = 2.0 mm) and high inter-trial reliability (FT: ϕ = .99, SEM = 1.2 mm; FA: ϕ = .99, SEM = 1.2 mm). The test-retest and inter-trial reliability of the photographic method was slightly lower for the 2 foot positions (ϕ = .90-.98; SEM: 2.7-5.8 mm). The plumbline and photographic methods had good correlation with the measure obtained via radiograph (plumbline: r = .79-.83; photograph: r = .75-.78) in both foot positions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The measurement of trunk list using the plumbline or via photograph is both reliable and valid for both foot positions.
authors.affiliation: School of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, C.P. 6128, succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec, H3C 3J7 Canada. Electronic address: erin.grunstein@umontreal.ca.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grunstein
authors.affiliation: School of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, C.P. 6128, succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec, H3C 3J7 Canada; Research centre, Sainte-Justine University Hospital Center, Site Marie Enfant Rehabilitation Centre, 5200 Bélanger, Est, Montréal (Québec), H1T 1C9.
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fortin
authors.affiliation: School of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, C.P. 6128, succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec, H3C 3J7 Canada; Department of Orthopedics, Sainte Justine University Hospital Center, 3175 Cote Sainte Catherine, Montréal, Québec H3T 1C5, Canada.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parent
authors.affiliation: Direction de Santé Publique de Montréal, 1301 Sherbrooke E, Montréal, Québec, H2L 1M3 Canada.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Houde
authors.affiliation: School of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, C.P. 6128, succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec, H3C 3J7 Canada; Department of Orthopedics, Sainte Justine University Hospital Center, 3175 Cote Sainte Catherine, Montréal, Québec H3T 1C5, Canada.
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Labelle
authors.affiliation: School of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, C.P. 6128, succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec, H3C 3J7 Canada; Direction de Santé Publique de Montréal, 1301 Sherbrooke E, Montréal, Québec, H2L 1M3 Canada.
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ehrmann-Feldman
keywords: Idiopathic scoliosis; Lateral trunk shift; Plumbline; Posture; Trunk list