[Cross-cultural adaptation and reliability of the Argentine version of the trunk control test in subjects with sequelae of spinal cord injury]

Abstract

Background: spinal cord injury leaves as a sequel in the acute and chronic period, deficiencies in the stability of joint functions and in the function of voluntary movement control. Those with good trunk control have a greater probability of carrying out activities of daily living by themselves; up to now, we do not have reliable tools in Argentina that evaluate trunk control in these subjects.

Objectives: to cross-culturally adapt the trunk control test to Argentinean Spanish in subjects with sequelae of spinal cord injury and to establish interobserver and intraobserver reliability.

Methodology: the subjects were admitted using a non-probabilistic convenience sampling. Subjects who were between 15 and 75 years old and had a diagnosis of spinal cord injury were included. Subjects who had: another neurological diagnosis, alteration in sensory organs, conditions that prevent the performance of the test, and psychiatric illness were excluded.

Results: 30 subjects were included for cross-cultural adaptation and 55 for reliability. Semantic modifications were made to all items and response options. The intraobserver and interobserver reliability of the scale or subdomains did not achieve a sufficient score.

Conclusion: the trunk control test was adapted cross-culturally to Argentine Spanish and interobserver and intraobserver reliability was established. The adaptation was achieved through semantic changes and the reliability was not sufficient. In the future, studies should be carried out to improve the reliability and study the validity of the tool.