Trunk control and balance, necessary for daily activities, are frequently impaired in people with MS. Adequate measurement tools for clinical- and research purposes are thus warranted. In this study two measurement tools will be explored:~The Trunk Impairment scale - modified Norwegian version (TIS-modNV), which has demonstrated high validity and reliability in individuals with stoke (Gjelsvik et al., 2012), however its properties has not yet been assessed in people with MS. Concurrent validity with a balance scale, the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest), will be assessed as well as its inter- and intra-rater reliability.~The AMTI Accugait Optimized™ multi-axis force platform (AMTI, Inc., Newton, MA) will be examined as there is a lack of studies measuring its properties within the MS population. A validity assessment of this tool will be included in this measurement study.~This study is two-parted, each with a separate aim:~Aim part 1: To determine the validity and reliability of the TIS-modNV across mild and moderate disability levels in the MS population.~Aim part 2: To determine the concurrent validity of the AMTI AccuGait OptimizedTM force plate system compared to the Mini-BESTest across mild and moderate disability levels in the MS population.
The current project will fill a knowledge gap in the follow-up of people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) with mild and moderate disability levels, with the purpose to assess the adequacy of measurement tools for trunk control and balance, functions that are pre-requisites for optimal performance in everyday physical activities.