Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients in Acute, Subacute and Chronic Stage: A Construct Validity Study.

Cecilia Estrada-Barranco,Francisco Molina-Rueda,Roberto Cano-De-La-Cuerda,Vanesa Abuín-Porras

doi:10.3390/diagnostics11020365

Cecilia Estrada-Barranco, Francisco Molina-Rueda + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11020365

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Abstract

(1) Background: Observational scales are the most common methodology used to assess postural control and balance in people with stroke. The aim of this paper was to analyse the construct validity of the Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients (PASS) scale in post-stroke patients in the acute, subacute, and chronic stroke phases. (2) Methods: Sixty-one post-stroke participants were enrolled. To analyze the construct validity of the PASS, the following scales were used: the Functional Ambulatory Category (FAC), the Wisconsin Gait Scale (WGS), the Barthel Index (BI) and the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). (3) Results: The construct validity of the PASS scale in patients with stroke at acute phase was moderate with the FAC (r = −0.791), WGS (r = −0.646) and FIM (r = −0.678) and excellent with the BI (r = 0.801). At subacute stage, the construct validity of the PASS scale was excellent with the FAC (r = 0.897), WGS (r = −0.847), FIM (r = −0.810) and BI (r = −0.888). At 6 and 12 months, the construct validity of the PASS with the FAC, WGS, FIM and BI was also excellent. (4) Conclusions: The PASS scale is a valid instrument to assess balance in post-stroke individuals especially, in the subacute and chronic phases (at 6 and 12 months).

Highlights

Most daily-life activities required that the subject could maintain a stable sitting position for their performance as a prerequisite [2]. It is considered an important predictive factor concerning walking ability to achieve a stable gait within 6 months after stroke
The patients were assessed at four time points after stroke to determine the ability of the PASS scale to measure the evolution of balance in stroke patients
The results showed a moderate correlation between the PASS scale and the Functional Ambulatory Category (FAC), Wisconsin Gait Scale (WGS) and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) for patients with stroke in the acute phase and excellent with the Barthel Index (BI) in this same stage

Summary

Introduction

The balance evaluation is a priority objective in the stroke rehabilitation process. Balance while sitting in the acute stage has been related to shorter hospital rehabilitation stays [1] and better levels of functionality. Most daily-life activities required that the subject could maintain a stable sitting position for their performance as a prerequisite [2]. It is considered an important predictive factor concerning walking ability to achieve a stable gait within 6 months after stroke. Some authors point out the importance of testing walking ability in initial assessments to help clinical decisions [3]

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