Trunk Control Tests in Post-stroke Context: Validity and Reliability Study

Anne-Violette Bruynnel

Status: Completed

Conditions: Stroke

Treatments: Diagnostic Test: Unstable sitting in a seesaw; Diagnostic Test: Timed Up and Go test; Diagnostic Test: Balance Assessment in Sitting and Standing test (BASS); Diagnostic Test: Trunk strength with hand-held dynamometer; Diagnostic Test: Modified Functional Reach Test (MFRT); Diagnostic Test: Joint Position sense test (trunk)

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04639453

83589

Details and patient eligibility

About

Context:

After stroke, most patients suffer from hemiparesis with variable functional consequences that can strongly impact autonomy in daily activities. Motor recovery is, therefore, an essential part of the therapeutic strategy in order to optimize the patient's capacities and functional autonomy.

Some authors suggest that trunk control would be essential in the capacities of standing balance, transfer tasks and gait. However, no studies have tested the reliability and validity of proprioceptive and sitting balance clinical tests for patients with post-stroke hemiparesis. These tests would be very useful in advancing our understanding of trunk impairments and for clinicians to manage an appropriate treatment strategy.

Objective:

The main objective is to assess the reliability of the Trunk Positional Sense Test, the unstable sitting test with forceplate and the Modified Functional Reach Test (MFRT) in individuals with post-stroke hemiparesis. The secondary objectives is 1) to assess the validity of the Trunk Positional Sense Test and the unstable sitting test with forceplate, 2) to assess the validity of a phone inertial captors to assess the instable sitting.

Method. - Thirty-two individuals with subacute post-stroke hemiparesis will be included in this study. After clinical tests (trunk strength, Balance Assessment in Standing and Sitting, Timed Up and Go test), the MFRT, Trunk Positional Sense Test and unstable sitting will be evaluated by two physiotherapists in a first session (inter-rater reliability). After a rest of 2-4 h, a second similar session was conducted with the first physiotherapist (intra-rater reliability). For unstable seated balance, two tools will be used: the force platform and a smartphone.

Reliability will be tested by calculating the intraclass correlation (ICC) and Bland-Altman analysis. For trunk positional sense test and unstable sitting test, the validity will be tested with correlations with each clinical test. The validity, between forceplate variables and inertial phone variables, will be tested with correlations.

Perspectives. - The promotion of quality tests to assess patients in clinical practice is essential. The results of this study should provide knowledge for selecting the best trunk control tests to assess the individuals after stroke and to understand the influence of trunk control on functional activities.

Enrollment: 32 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 50 to 80 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Post stroke
• Subacute phase
• Able to stay stable in sitting position during 30 seconds
• Medical stability
• Able to understand the consign (Mini-Mental State Examination >22)

Exclusion criteria

• Medical complications
• Hearing disorders
• Previous pathologies associated with spinal disorders
• Back pain

Trial design

32 participants in 1 patient group

Stroke

Description:

Individuals with post-stroke hemiparesis in subacute phase will be included in the study.

Treatment:

Diagnostic Test: Joint Position sense test (trunk)

Diagnostic Test: Unstable sitting in a seesaw

Diagnostic Test: Timed Up and Go test

Diagnostic Test: Balance Assessment in Sitting and Standing test (BASS)

Diagnostic Test: Trunk strength with hand-held dynamometer

Diagnostic Test: Modified Functional Reach Test (MFRT)