Article

OBJECTIVE: To examine the reliability, validity, and interpretability of 4
clinical measures in assessing the severity of balance dysfunction among people
with cerebellar ataxia (CA) secondary to multiple sclerosis (MS). DESIGN:
Cross-sectional observation study. SETTING: Outpatient clinics. PARTICIPANTS:
Consecutive participants with CA secondary to MS (N=60). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Balance was assessed and video recorded using
the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), timed Up and Go (TUG) test, posture and gait
subcomponent of the International Co-operative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS), and
gait, stance, and sit subcomponents of the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of
Ataxia (SARA). The videos were later used to estimate reliability. The Barthel
Index, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), ICARS, and SARA were assessed,
and disease duration was recorded. RESULTS: Reliability was good for all 4
measures (intraclass correlation coefficient range, .95-.99). Internal
consistency was moderate to good for all 4 measures (alpha range, .72-.94), with
a moderate to good correlation between the measures of balance (Spearman rho
range, .72-.85) and poor to moderate correlation with disease severity (EDSS),
functional independence (Barthel Index), and disease duration (Spearman rho
range, -.37 to .76). Minimal detectable change was derived for the BBS (3),
posture and gait subcomponent of the ICARS (2), and gait, stance, and sit
subcomponents of the SARA (2). Measures were able to discriminate between
assistive walking device users and nonusers. CONCLUSIONS: All 4 measures showed
good reliability and acceptable validity; however, because of the item repetition
in scoring of the posture and gait subcomponent of the ICARS and moderate
construct, criterion, and convergent validity of the TUG, the BBS and gait,
stance, and sit subcomponents of the SARA are recommended for balance assessment
in clinical practice for people with CA secondary to MS.
CI - Copyright (c) 2016 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS