Article

OBJECTIVES: To develop simple tests to assess the abilities of people with spinal
cord injury (SCI) to sit unsupported and to assess the construct validity and
test-retest reliability of these tests. DESIGN: Cross-sectional comparisons,
convenience sample. SETTING: Biomechanical laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: People
(N=30) with SCI between the C6 and the L2 level of 2 months to 37 years duration
before assessment. The sample was stratified by impairment level (at T8) and time
since injury (1 y postinjury). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME
MEASURES: On 2 separate occasions, participants performed tests that measured the
distance of upper-body sway and maximal torso leaning, errors made during a
coordinated stability task, timed dressing/undressing of the upper body and
alternating arm reaching, and percentage change in seated upper body/arm
reaching. RESULTS: All tests showed good construct validity in that they
distinguished between participants with higher (C6-T7) and lower (T8-L2) level
impairments (P<.05) and between participants with acute (< or =1 y) and chronic
(>1 y) lesions (P<.05). The tests also showed good to excellent test-retest
reliability (intraclass correlation coeffiecient(3,1) range, .51-.91).
CONCLUSIONS: These simple and quick-to-administer tests have both construct
validity and test-retest reliability. They would be appropriate for research and
clinical purposes to quantify the abilities of people with SCI to sit
unsupported.

Langue : ANGLAIS