A Comprehensive Assessment of Trunk, Scapula and Upper Limb in Neurological Patients. Reliability, Validity and Interrelatedness

A Comprehensive Assessment of Trunk, Scapula and Upper Limb in Neurological Patients. Reliability, Validity and Interrelatedness

The study aimed to provide insights in the coordination between trunk, shoulder and upper limb while reaching. Two main phases are present in this study:

In phase A: the psychometric properties of two tests: Clinical Scapular protocol (ClinScaP) in PwMS (Persons with Multiple Sclerosis) and healthy controls.

1. To investigate the test-retest reliability of the Clinical Scapular Protocol (ClinScaP) and the Reaching Performance Scale (RPS) in PwMS

2. To investigate the discriminative of the ClinScaP between PwMS and healthy controls

3. To investigate the discriminative of the RPS between PwMS and healthy controls

4. To investigate the concurrent validity of ClinScaP and RPS in PwMS, compared with upper limb dysfunction measurements.

   In phase B:

5. To investigate the prevalence of trunk, scapula and upper limb impairments in PwMS and stroke patients.

6. To investigate the interaction between trunk, scapula and upper limb impairments in PwMS and stroke patients.

Inclusion criteria for all participants: Healthy controls, PwMS (Persons with Multiple Sclerosis) and stroke patients

• Age > 18 years
• Able to understand and execute the test instructions
• Able to sit on a chair with low back support for 10 minutes

Inclusion criteria specific for PwMS:

• Diagnosed with MS (Multiple Sclerosis) using McDonald criteria
• Able to move at least 1 out of 3 joints (wrist, elbow or shoulder): Medical Research Council score 3.

Inclusion criteria for stroke patients:

• First- ever single, unilateral (ischemic or hemorrhagic) stroke
• No apraxia or hemi spatial neglect
• Able to move at least 1 out of 3 joints of the affected upper limb (wrist, elbow or shoulder): Medical Research Council score 3.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Other medical conditions interfering with the upper limb function or trunk (orthopedic or rheumatoid impairment)
• Perceived pain in one of the upper limbs of more than 4/10 (Visual Analog Scale)
• Severe cognitive or visual deficits interfering with testing
• For the PwMS: a relapse or relapse-related treatment in the last month prior to the study