Article

This study investigated the test-retest reliability of the Neurothesiometer (NT),
Verbal Analogue Scale for sensation (VAS), Erasmus modifications to the
Nottingham Sensory assessment (EmNSA) and Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments (SWM) in
people with multiple sclerosis (MS). A random sample of 34 people with MS who
walked with or without an assistive device participated in this study.
Participants were tested twice with the NT, VAS, EmNSA and SWM, 1 week apart. For
categorical data, Cohen's kappa (Kappa), percentage agreement (P0) and
prevalence-adjusted bias-adjusted kappa (PABAK) were used. For continuous data,
intraclass correlation coefficients [ICC (3,1)] with 95% confidence intervals
(95% CI), Bland-Altman plots and standard error of measurement (SEM) were
calculated. The ICC values for NT were good, being the highest for the plantar
aspect of the heel (ICC=0.92, 95% CI 0.85-0.96, SEM=4.24). Good ICC values were
obtained for VAS questions on numbness, pins and needles and temperature and were
supported by low SEM. Kappa values for SWM were poor, ranging from 0.11 to 0.46
for the upper limb and 0.12 to 0.29 for the lower limb. Findings for EmNSA need
further verification because of a possible ceiling effect in this test. The NT
and VAS assessments for sensation had good test-retest reliability and should be
considered for measuring changes in sensation in ambulatory people with MS. In
contrast, findings from EmNSA and SWM revealed either questionable or poor
test-retest reliability, suggesting that these two measures need further
investigation.

Langue : ANGLAIS