Amy M. Yorke

Outcome Measures for Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis: Recommendations From the American Physical Therapy Association Neurology Section Task Force

Various studies have described the benefits of using outcome measures (OMs) in physical therapist practice1–3; however, multiple barriers interfere with their use (eTab. 1).1,3,4 Most notably, a limited understanding of how to select and apply the best OM has been reported to be a barrier.3,4 Wedge et al3 reported that physical therapists do not always critically evaluate the psychometric properties of OMs, are unfamiliar with OM-related resources, and have difficulties determining patient suitability for particular OMs. Physical therapists working with people with multiple sclerosis (MS) have additional challenges when selecting OMs. Multiple sclerosis is a complex, heterogeneous, and progressive disorder causing a wide variety of symptoms among patients.5,6 Symptom variability in individual patients throughout the course of the disease also must be considered. Additionally, people with MS are treated in a variety of settings, which may affect OM selection and use (eg, due to limited space and equipment in a home environment). Thus, selecting 1 or 2 OMs for use with all people with MS is challenging, requiring the clinician to determine the most appropriate OMs to measure relevant constructs. Although some resources exist to assist the physical therapist with identifying and selecting OMs for people with MS,7–13 literature is lacking that describes a consensus-based method to determine which OMs are appropriate for people with MS at various disability levels and in different practice settings. In 2009, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Neurology Section (“the Section”) began a process to develop recommendations for the use of OMs for patients with neurological conditions, beginning with stroke (information pertaining to the Sections OM recommendations is available elsewhere14). The following year, the Section expanded its efforts by creating a task force …

King-Devick Test reference values and associations with balance measures in high school American football players.

The King‐Devick test appears to be a promising tool in screening for concussions. However, limited evidence exists on the baseline associations between the K‐D test and age and baseline screening tools used after concussion. Additionally, there are no published reference values for the K‐D test in high school football players. The K‐D test, the Balance Error Scoring System, and the Limits of Stability (LOS) test were administered to 157 high school football players. Additionally, a subsample of 62 participants completed the test twice to examine the reliability of K‐D test. There was no relationship between the K‐D test and the BESS, or the reaction time and directional control of LOS test. Students aged between 16 and 18 years demonstrated faster K‐D test performance compared to students between 13 and 15 years of age. However, there was no association between K‐D test and history of concussion. The reliability of the K‐D test was (ICC2,1 = 0.89), and the minimal detectable change was 6.10 s. Normative reference values for high school football players are presented in this study.

Reliability and concurrent validity of instrumented balance error scoring system using a portable force plate system.

Abstract Objectives: The Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) is a commonly used test in adolescents and young adults. Affordability and portability of newer force plates has led to instrumentation of many clinical balance tests including the BESS. Despite the higher precision of force plate measures compared with clinical scoring, it is unclear if the instrumented BESS demonstrate concurrent validity and reliability when compared with the original BESS. The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and concurrent validity of instrumented BESS testing using a commercially available force plate system. Methods: Thirty-six participants participated in the initial testing day (17 male/19 female, M = 15.9 years, SD = 1.5 years). The test–retest sample consisted of 26 participants who completed the same testing procedure after 1 week. For all testing sessions, participants performed the BESS while standing on a portable force plate system. Number of errors and sway velocity were obtained. Concurrent validity was established through correlation analysis examining the relationship between the original and the instrumented BESS scores. Reliability was established using Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC3,1) computed for the instrumented and the original BESS. Results: A significant moderate relationship exists between the total scores of the original and the instrumented BESS (rs = 0.54, p = 0.001). Despite a range of reliability scores for the different conditions in the instrumented BESS (ICC3,1 = 0.19–0.61) and the clinically scored BESS (ICC3,1 = 0.13–0.71), the reliability score for the total test score was the same for the instrumented and the clinical test (ICC3,1 = 0.74). Conclusion: Although the instrumented BESS may appear to demonstrate concurrent validity against the original BESS, instrumentation did not improve its reliability. Future research should examine if the instrumented BESS demonstrates validity against laboratory level force plates and if it is able to overcome the ceiling effect reported for the clinical BESS test.

Grip strength values stratified by age, gender, and chronic disease status in adults aged 50 years and older.

Background and Purpose:Grip strength is a measure of overall muscle strength and has been found to be a predictor of disability and mortality. Almost 3 in 4 adults aged 65 years and older have multiple chronic conditions, known as multimorbidity. Normative data for grip strength have commonly been reported on healthy convenience samples that may not accurately represent the population of interest. Grip strength values of US adults, utilizing a nationally representative data set based on the number of chronic diseases, would be beneficial to health care providers who serve adults with multimorbidity. The purpose of this study was to describe grip strength values of adults in the United States, based on gender, age, and the number of chronic diseases. Methods:A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data collected from adults aged 50 years or older (n = 5877) from the Health and Retirement Study survey administered in 2008. Grip strength values (in kilograms) were determined and stratified on the basis of the number of self-reported chronic diseases (0, 1, 2, ≥3) and stratified by age (decades) and gender. Results:Consistent with previously published values, males demonstrated higher mean hand grip strength than females and grip strength values decreased with age. Adults with multimorbidity demonstrated decreased grip strength as compared with those without chronic conditions (males/females with 0 chronic diseases right grip strength = 44.2/26.8 kg as compared with males/females with 3 or more chronic disease right grip strength = 36.1/21.7 kg). Conclusions:The grip strength values presented can serve as a standard of comparison for the large proportion of adults who have multimorbidity. Clinicians should consider grip strength as a component of a comprehensive physical assessment to identify decreased grip strength and recommend increased physical activity as an appropriate intervention.

Selecting Rehabilitation Outcome Measures for People with Multiple Sclerosis

Despite the well-known benefits of using standardized outcome measures (OMs) in clinical practice, a variety of barriers interfere with their use. In particular, rehabilitation therapists lack sufficient knowledge in selecting appropriate OMs. The challenge is compounded when working with people with multiple sclerosis (MS) owing to heterogeneity of the patient population and symptom variability in individual patients. To help overcome these barriers, the American Physical Therapy Association appointed the Multiple Sclerosis Outcome Measures Task Force to review and make evidence-based recommendations for OM use in clinical practice, education, and research specific to people with MS. Sixty-three OMs were reviewed based on their clinical utility, psychometric properties, and a consensus evaluation of the appropriateness of use for people with MS. We sought to illustrate use of the recommendations for two cases. The first case involves a 43-year-old man with new-onset problems after an exacerbation. The second case pertains to an outpatient clinic interested in assessing the effectiveness of their MS rehabilitation program. For each case, clinicians identified areas that were important to assess and various factors deemed important for OM selection. Criteria were established and used to assist in OM selection. In both cases, the described processes narrowed the selection of OMs and assisted with choosing the most appropriate ones. The recommendations, in addition to the processes described in these two cases, can be used by clinicians in any setting working with patients with MS across the disability spectrum.

Validity and Reliability of the Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening and Associations With Common Concussion Screening Tools:

Background: Sustaining a concussion commonly results in vestibular impairments that may be associated with balance deficits. To screen for vestibular impairments after a concussion, the Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS) tool was developed. The relationship between the VOMS and other concussion screening tools, such as the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) and King-Devick (K-D), have not been explored. Hypotheses: (1) VOMS would provide reliable results and not provoke symptoms in healthy adolescents and (2) VOMS test items would measure related aspects of vestibular function that are not measured through the BESS or K-D. Study Design: Cross-sectional, descriptive. Level of Evidence: Level 4. Methods: A total of 105 healthy adolescents (53 male, 52 female; mean age, 15.4 years) completed the VOMS, BESS, and K-D tests. A subsample of 21 adolescents (16 male, 5 female; mean age, 15.5 years) completed the VOMS twice. Results: The median total symptom score for all 7 VOMS items was 0 (0-5). The majority of the individual VOMS test items total symptom scores demonstrated a significant correlation with each other (rs = 0.25-0.66, P < 0.02). The individual VOMS items did not demonstrate a significant relationship to the BESS or K-D. VOMS items demonstrated high agreement in total symptom scores between testing trials, with near point convergence (NPC) distance demonstrating an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.95 (95% CI, 0.89-0.98; P < 0.001). The MDC95 (minimal detectable change with 95 confidence) for NPC distance was 4 cm. Conclusion: The VOMS did not provoke vestibular symptoms in healthy adolescents. The VOMS items measured unique aspects of vestibular function other than those measured by the BESS or K-D with good reliability. Clinical Relevance: Clinicians should consider implementing the VOMS as part of a comprehensive concussion assessment if vestibular impairment is suspected. If NPC distance is measured twice, a difference of >4 cm would be considered real change outside of measurement error.

Reliability and Construct Validity of Limits of Stability Test in Adolescents Using a Portable Forceplate System

OBJECTIVE To examine the reliability, convergent, and discriminant validity of the limits of stability (LOS) test to assess dynamic postural stability in adolescents using a portable forceplate system. DESIGN Cross-sectional reliability observational study. SETTING School setting. PARTICIPANTS Adolescents (N=36) completed all measures during the first session. To examine the reliability of the LOS test, a subset of 15 participants repeated the LOS test after 1 week. INTERVENTIONS Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Outcome measurements included the LOS test, Balance Error Scoring System, Instrumented Balance Error Scoring System, and Modified Clinical Test for Sensory Interaction on Balance. RESULTS A significant relation was observed among LOS composite scores (r=.36-.87, P<.05). However, no relation was observed between LOS and static balance outcome measurements. The reliability of the LOS composite scores ranged from moderate to good (intraclass correlation coefficient model 2,1=.73-.96). CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that the LOS composite scores provide unique information about dynamic postural stability, and the LOS test completed at 100% of the theoretical limit appeared to be a reliable test of dynamic postural stability in adolescents. Clinicians should use dynamic balance measurement as part of their balance assessment and should not use static balance testing (eg, Balance Error Scoring System) to make inferences about dynamic balance, especially when balance assessment is used to determine rehabilitation outcomes, or when making return to play decisions after injury.

Doctor of physical therapy students’ attitudes towards people with disabilities: a descriptive study

Abstract Purpose To describe attitudes of doctoral physical therapy (DPT) students towards people with disability and examine predictive ability of demographic variables on those attitudes. Methods Two established surveys, Attitudes Towards Disabled Persons-Form O (ATDP-O) and Disability Attitudes in Health Care (DAHC) were completed by first (Y1) and third year (Y3) students in a DPT programme. Demographics and information about students’ contact experience with people with disabilities were collected through a brief questionnaire. Multiple linear regression models were constructed from predictor variables. Results Scores on the ATDP-O and the DAHC were not significantly different between the Y1 and Y3 DPT students. There was a modest correlation (r = 0.342, p < 0.001) between the ATDP-O and the DAHC. Being female and having work contact with people with disabilities both explained about 9% of the variance in the DAHC; while having a close family member explains about 4% of the variance in the ATDP-O. Conclusion Attitudes of DPT students over the course of their education did not change. The DAHC is a more recently developed tool and should continue to be investigated for its usefulness in healthcare professional students. Faculty should consider measuring attitudes and developing specific educational strategies to improve attitudes with the goal to improve patient care. Implications for Rehabilitation Attitudes towards people with disability can impact their health care. Physical therapy students, in general, express positive attitudes towards people with disabilities and no differences in attitudes were determined in a group of Year 1 and Year 3 doctoral physical therapy students. Opportunities exist to intentionally thread educational strategies throughout a professional curriculum to facilitate further development of positive attitudes in doctoral physical therapy students.

The impact of multimorbidity on grip strength in adults age 50 and older: Data from the health and retirement survey (HRS)☆

BACKGROUND Multimorbidity, the presence of two or more chronic diseases, is a public health concern. The measurement of grip strength has been proposed as a measure of overall body strength and is reliable and easy to measure. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the number of chronic diseases and common co-occurring chronic diseases with grip strength. METHODS A cross-sectional analysis was conducted of 5877 respondents (2744=male, 3103=female) from the 2008 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) who completed grip strength measurements (kg). RESULTS As the number of chronic diseases increased, an incremental decrease in grip strength occurred and became more pronounced with ≥3 chronic diseases present (b=3.1, 95% CI=2.3-3.9, p<0.001). No statistically significant relationship was identified between specific chronic diseases (except for stroke) and grip strength. CONCLUSION Multimorbidity has a statistically significant negative relationship on grip strength. Grip strength should be considered as a physical performance measure to incorporate into the care of patients with multimorbidity.

Concussion Attitudes and Beliefs, Knowledge, and Clinical Practice: Survey of Physical Therapists

Background A concussion is considered a mild traumatic brain injury that may cause physical, cognitive, affective, and sleep dysfunction. Physical therapists have been identified as health care providers involved in the multidisciplinary care of a patient with concussion. Objective The purpose of this study was to describe the current attitudes and beliefs, knowledge, and practice of physical therapists in the treatment of patients with concussion. Methods A 55-question electronic survey divided into 6 sections—(1) demographics, (2) current practice in concussion, (3) youth concussion legislation, (4) attitudes and beliefs toward concussion management, (5) concussion knowledge, and (6) clinical decision making—was developed and distributed online through selected American Physical Therapy Association sections. Results A total of 1,272 physical therapists completed the survey. Seventy percent of the respondents (n=894) reported having concussion training. Although supportive of the role of the physical therapist in the treatment of a person with concussion, the respondents demonstrated less confidence when making return-to-play decisions. Respondents correctly answered, on average, 13 (out of 15) concussion knowledge questions, with gaps exhibited in understanding the clinical utilization of concussion severity scales, the conservative treatment of youth who sustain a concussion, and anticipated normal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging after a concussion. When provided with clinical scenarios, respondents were able to recognize when a referral to a physician was indicated; however, they demonstrated variability in identifying a need for vestibular or manual physical therapy. Limitations Convenience sampling was utilized, limiting generalizability of the results of the study to the physical therapy profession as a whole. Conclusion Physical therapists demonstrated a solid foundation of concussion knowledge, but gaps still existed. Future professional development opportunities should be developed to target identified gaps in knowledge and current practice patterns.