Clinical utility of the modified trunk impairment scale for stroke survivors

Abstract

Objective: The present study aimed to determine the discriminant power of the modified Trunk Impairment Scale (mTIS) in stroke survivors versus healthy adults.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Inpatient rehabilitation center.

Participants: Fifty-five subjects with stroke and 29 healthy adults.

Methods: Subjects were examined using the mTIS, Berg Balance Scale, and Timed Up and Go test for balance; 5-m Walk Test and Functional Ambulation Category for gait; Fugl-Meyer Assessment for motor function; Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke-Trunk Control and Trunk Control Test for trunk control; and Modified Barthel Index for activities of daily living performance.

Results: The mTIS results differed significantly between stroke survivors and healthy adults (p < 0.001). In addition, mTIS scores were significantly correlated with the Berg Balance Scale (r = 0.82), Timed Up and Go test (r = –0.70), 5-m Walk Test (r = 0.73), Functional Ambulation Category (r = 0.54), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (r = 0.37–0.80), Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke-Trunk Control and Trunk Control Test (r = 0.55–0.63), and Modified Barthel Index score (r = 0.56) results (p < 0.05–0.01). The mTIS also showed 66% influence on the Berg Balance Scale, 49% on the Timed Up and Go test, 53% on the 5-m Walk Test, 28% on the Functional Ambulation Category, 12% on the Fugl-Meyer Assessment-upper extremity, 64% on the Fugl-Meyer Assessment-lower extremity, and 30% on the Modified Barthel Index. The cutoff value of the mTIS for the Modified Barthel Index classification was >10.5 points, while the area under the curve had a moderate accuracy of 73%.

Conclusion: The mTIS can be used to examine the degree of trunk control or the level of trunk impairment, which is seen as a prerequisite for balance, gait, motor function, and activities of daily living performance in stroke survivors.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• The modified Trunk Impairment Scale can be used as an assessment tool to classify the degree of trunk control or its level of impairment in stroke survivors.

• The modified Trunk Impairment Scale may have a favorable correlation with assessing physical functions such as balance, gait, motor function, and ADL in stroke survivors.

Keywords:

• Stroke
• modified trunk impairment scale
• trunk control
• physical function

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.