Clinical utility of the modified trunk impairment scale for stroke survivors.

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.