Reliability and validity of the T-shirt test for the assessment of unsupported sitting in manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury.

This study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the T-shirt test (TST) in assessing sitting stability under three thigh support conditions and with timed outcomes derived in six ways among individuals with a spinal cord injury (SCI). The TST was performed five times under three thigh support conditions (85%, 55% and 25% of total thigh length) in two evaluations spaced between 7-14 days. For each thigh condition, six different outcomes were derived (average or best time from 2, 3, and 5 trial). All outcomes derivation showed excellent reliability on test day (intraclass correlation coefficient; ICC  ≥ 0.997) and excellent test-retest reliability (ICC ≥ 0.874) for each thigh support condition. The TST showed high inverse correlations with the Spinal Cord Independence Measure III (SCIM)-mobility score for all outcomes and support conditions (ρ≥-0.706), except for Best-5; moderate inverse correlations with total SCIM-total scores for most outcome derivations and support conditions (ρ≥-0.636); and a moderate inverse correlation with confidence and capacity domains of Wheelchair Skills Test-Questionnaire for most outcome derivation and support conditions (ρ≥-0.504). The TST could discriminate cervical from high and low thoracic levels of injuries under minimal thigh support condition. Overall, all the TST-derived outcomes and support conditions showed adequate validity and test-retest reliability, but Best-5 had inconsistency. Under the minimal thigh support condition, all outcome derivations except Best-3 could discriminate cervical from other injury-level groups. Although all outcome derivations and thigh support conditions provided reliable results, we recommend using the average of 3 trials under the maximal thigh support condition.

Cross-cultural Adaptation of Self-report S4-5 Sensory and Motor Function Questionnaire (S4-5Q) in People with Spinal Cord Injury to Portuguese.

Objective The "Self-report S4-5 sensory and motor function questionnaire (S4-5Q)" is a short questionnaire that aims to assess the function of the sacral segments, S4 and S5, after a spinal cord injury (SCI), with the purpose of replacing the rectal exam test. The aim of the present study was to carry out a cross-cultural adaptation of the S4-5Q to the Brazilian Portuguese language and to investigate the test-retest reliability of this version. Method The translation and cross-cultural adaptation was performed using the methodology of translation and backtranslation. Initially, translations were done by three independent translators. Their synthesis was then submitted to an expert committee for analysis (SCI health professionals); then, the backtranslation to the original language was sent to the original author and, after all the adjustments, the final version was completed. For test-retest reliability, 24 individuals with chronic SCI were recruited (2 evaluations with an interval of 7 to 14 days between them). Statistical analysis was performed using IBM-SPSS (Version 20, SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA) with data pretabulated in Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA, USA). Reliability was tested with Cohen Kappa, and internal consistency with Cronbach α, both adopting p < 0.05 as significant. Results In the reliability analysis, the results of all questions showed almost perfect agreement (Kappa > 0.81) and good internal consistency (Cronbach α: 0.65-0.77) between the questions and final classification. Conclusion The cross-culturally adapted S4-5Q is reliable to be applied to the Brazilian population with chronic SCI to determine their S4-5 sensory and motor function.

Cross-cultural Adaptation of Self-report S4-5 Sensory and Motor Function Questionnaire (S4-5Q) in People with Spinal Cord Injury to Portuguese / Adaptação transcultural para o Português do questionário de autorrelato da função sensorial e motora de S4-5 (S4-5Q) em pessoas com lesão medular espinhal

Abstract Objective The "Self-report S4-5 sensory and motor function questionnaire (S4-5Q)" is a short questionnaire that aims to assess the function of the sacral segments, S4 and S5, after a spinal cord injury (SCI), with the purpose of replacing the rectal exam test. The aim of the present study was to carry out a cross-cultural adaptation of the S4-5Q to the Brazilian Portuguese language and to investigate the test-retest reliability of this version. Method The translation and cross-cultural adaptation was performed using the methodology of translation and backtranslation. Initially, translations were done by three independent translators. Their synthesis was then submitted to an expert committee for analysis (SCI health professionals); then, the backtranslation to the original language was sent to the original author and, after all the adjustments, the final version was completed. For test-retest reliability, 24 individuals with chronic SCI were recruited (2 evaluations with an interval of 7 to 14 days between them). Statistical analysis was performed using IBM-SPSS (Version 20, SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA) with data pretabulated in Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA, USA). Reliability was tested with Cohen Kappa, and internal consistency with Cronbach α, both adopting p < 0.05 as significant. Results In the reliability analysis, the results of all questions showed almost perfect agreement (Kappa > 0.81) and good internal consistency (Cronbach α: 0.65-0.77) between the questions and final classification. Conclusion The cross-culturally adapted S4-5Q is reliable to be applied to the Brazilian population with chronic SCI to determine their S4-5 sensory and motor function.

Resumo Objetivo O "Self-report S4-5 Sensory and Motor Function Questionnaire (S4-5Q)" é um breve questionário de avaliação da função dos segmentos sacrais S4 e S5 após uma lesão medular (LM), cuja finalidade é substituir o exame de toque retal. O objetivo do presente estudo foi realizar uma adaptação transcultural do questionário S4-5Q para a língua portuguesa do Brasil e investigar a confiabilidade teste-reteste desta versão. Método A tradução e a adaptação transcultural foram realizadas utilizando a metodologia de tradução e retrotradução. Inicialmente, as traduções foram realizadas por três tradutores independentes. Sua síntese foi então submetida a um comitê de especialistas (profissionais de saúde com experiência em LM). Em seguida, a retrotradução para o idioma original foi enviada ao autor original, sendo que a versão final foi concluída após todas as adaptações. Para a confiabilidade teste-reteste, foram recrutados 24 indivíduos com lesão medular espinal (LME) em fase crônica (2 avaliações com intervalo de 7 a 14 dias entre elas). A análise estatística foi realizada no IBM-SPSS (Version 20, SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA) com dados pré- tabulados no programa Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA, EUA). A confiabilidade foi testada por meio do coeficiente Kappa de Cohen, e a consistência interna foi medida através do α de Cronbach, ambas adotando p < 0,05 como significante. Resultados Na análise de confiabilidade, os resultados de todas as perguntas apresentaram concordância quase perfeita (Kappa > 0,81) e boa consistência interna (α de Cronbach: 0,65-0,77) entre as perguntas e a classificação final. Conclusão O questionário S4-5Q adaptado culturalmente é confiável, podendo ser aplicado à população brasileira com LME crônica, com o objetivo de avaliar a função sensorial e motora nos segmentos sacrais S4-S5.

Postural control and the influence of the extent of thigh support on dynamic sitting balance among individuals with thoracic spinal cord injury.

BACKGROUND: Unsupported sitting balance with reduced thigh support is necessary during several daily living activities among individuals with spinal cord injury. This study proposed to compare dynamic unsupported sitting postural control under reduced thigh support conditions in individuals with motor-complete thoracic spinal cord injury and able-bodied individuals. METHODS: Thirteen individuals with spinal cord injury and thirteen able-bodied individuals were asked to put on a t-shirt and reach forward while sitting on a force platform using maximum, medium or minimum thigh support extent. Postural control was measured by the center of pressure parameters. FINDINGS: Individuals with spinal cord injury presented larger postural sway parameters and mean velocity of the center of pressure displacement in anterior-posterior direction during the t-shirt wearing task. On the other hand, these parameters were lower in the medial-lateral direction. These results are more expressive when the task was performed in reduced thigh support conditions [F(1,76) = 5.05-18.70; p < 0.05]. Lower postural sway parameters and mean velocity of the center of pressure displacement in anterior-posterior, and postural sway in medial-lateral direction in the three thigh support conditions were observed when individuals with spinal cord injury performed the forward reaching task [F(1,76) = 9.81-185.46; p < 0.01]. INTERPRETATION: The results confirm that individuals with motor-complete thoracic spinal cord injury have poor postural stability and show a trunk postural sway constraint to maintain the suboptimal unsupported sitting balance. Reduced thigh support extent can challenge the dynamic sitting balance in individuals with thoracic spinal cord injury and should be indicated to train new and diversified postural control strategies.

Do clinical balance measures have the ability to predict falls among ambulatory individuals with spinal cord injury? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Fall prevalence is high among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) and falls may lead to serious consequences. The objective of this study was to investigate the ability of clinical balance measures to predict falls among ambulatory individuals with SCI. METHODS: We searched the online databases MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, SportDiscuss, and CINAHL. Two reviewers independently selected prospective and cross-sectional studies of ambulatory adults with SCI, with a method of falls tracking and a clinical balance evaluation. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. A meta-analysis of prospective and cross-sectional studies was performed using Review Manager 5.3. RESULTS: Ten studies from the 2672 studies identified were included in the qualitative synthesis. Nine studies were included in the meta-analyses. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the Timed Up and Go Test demonstrate ability to differentiate between fallers and non-fallers, mean difference 5.25 (95% CI, 0.29 to 10.20) and 6.65 (95% CI, 0.17 to 13.12) respectively. The BBS presents moderate predictive ability (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.61 and sensitivity of 65%). Individuals with a BBS score ≥ 40 are likely at risk of falls. CONCLUSION: The BBS is the most appropriate and specific clinical balance measure with the ability to discriminate between ambulatory fallers and non-fallers. However, the fall predictive abilities of the measure need to be further explored and improved for this population.