The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy

The Korean Society of Physical Therapy (대한물리치료학회)
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Inter-Rater and Intra-Rater Reliability of the Modified Ashworth Scale and the Modified Tardieu Scale: A Comparison Study

수정된 Ashworth 척도와 수정된 Tardieu 척도의 검사자간, 검사자내 신뢰도 비교 연구

  • Choi, Yul-Jung (Department of Physical Therapy, Gangnam Severance Hospital) ;
  • Lee, Jung-Ah (Department of Motor & Cognitive Rehabilitation, National Rehabilitation Center Research Institute) ;
  • Shin, Hwa-Kyung (Department of Physical therapy, College of Medical Science, Catholic University of Daegu)
  • 최율정 (강남세브란스병원 물리치료실) ;
  • 이정아 (국립재활원 재활연구소 운동인지기능재활연구과) ;
  • 신화경 (대구가톨릭대학교 의료과학대학 물리치료학과)
  • Received : 2010.05.14
  • Accepted : 2010.07.31
  • Published : 2010.08.25
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Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess and compare the reliability of the Modified Tardieu Scale (MTS) with the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) in patients with hemiplegia. Methods: Two experienced physical therapists examined twenty six patients (17 male and 9 female) with an age range of 19-83 years (mean=51.9 SD=15.2). They assessed the elbow flexor/extensor muscle spasticity in the affected side. Interand intra-rater reliability of the MAS and the MTS were calculated using kappa statistics. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated to determine the inter- and intra-rater reliability of the angle of muscle reactions (R2-R1). Results: The intra-rater reliability of the MAS (K=0.39-0.55) and MTS (K=0.33-0.55) was fair to moderate. The inter-rater reliability was significantly higheras measured with MTS (K=0.54-0.66) in comparison with MAS (K=0.52). Intra-rater reliability of R2-R1 was moderate to almost perfect (ICC=0.52-0.86), and inter-rater reliability was substantial (ICC=0.74-0.76). Conclusion: The MTS provides higher inter-rater reliability compared with the MAS in hemiplegia patient analysis, but intra-rater reliability of both scales was not significantly different. Thus further research is needed to examine not only reliability, but also validity of these measurement systems.

Keywords

References

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