Abstract
Objective
To expand the construct validity of the Four Square Step Test (FSST) in people with
multiple sclerosis (PWMS).
Design
Cross-sectional study.
Setting
Multiple sclerosis center.
Participants
PWMS (N=218; 133 women, 85 men; mean age, 43.2±13.5y; mean disease duration, 7.5±7.7y
since diagnosis) were enrolled in the study. The Expanded Disability Status Scale
score was 3.1±1.3, indicating minimal to moderate neurologic disability.
Interventions
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measures
The FSST, posturography measures, 2-minute walk test, timed Up & Go test, timed 25-foot
walk, fall status, Falls Efficacy Scale International, Modified Fatigue Impact Scale,
instrumented cognitive assessment, and 12-item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale.
Results
The FSST score of the total sample was 11.0±4.9. Significant differences were observed
between the very mild, mild, and moderate disability groups: 8.8±3.4, 11.1±4.9, and
14.1±5.3, respectively. In terms of fall status, the fallers demonstrated a significant
slower FSST score than the nonfallers (12.5±5.7 vs 9.0±2.6, respectively). Modest
significant correlation scores were found between the FSST and the timed Up & Go test
and 2-minute walk test (Pearson ρ=.652 and ρ=−.575, respectively). In terms of posturography,
all measures were significantly associated with the FSST scores. A significant positive
relation was observed with the visual spatial cognitive domain (Pearson ρ=−.207).
Conclusions
The current study supports and broadens the construct validity of the FSST in PWMS.
Keywords
List of abbreviations:
COP (center of pressure), EDSS (Expanded Disability Status Scale), FSST (Four Square Step Test), MS (multiple sclerosis), MSWS-12 (12-item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale), PWMS (people with multiple sclerosis)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 13, 2016
Footnotes
Disclosures: none.
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine
