A clinical tool to measure trunk control in children with cerebral palsy: the Trunk Control Measurement Scale.
The TCMS is a fast, reliable scale that captures trunk control deficits in school-age kids with CP.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team built a new 15-minute test called the Trunk Control Measurement Scale (TCMS).
They gave it to school-age kids with spastic cerebral palsy and to kids with typical development.
They checked if two raters scored the same child the same way and if scores matched the well-known GMFM test.
What they found
The TCMS earned high reliability marks: raters agreed almost perfectly.
Scores also lined up strongly with the GMFM, showing the scale truly measures trunk control.
Kids with CP scored lower than typically developing peers, so the tool spots problems quickly.
How this fits with other research
Saether et al. (2013) later tested a similar scale, the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), and got equally strong numbers.
Both studies used the GMFM as the yard-stick, giving you two solid choices for trunk assessment.
Sæther et al. (2011) published TIS reliability data the same year, proving the field was racing to give clinicians quick, trustworthy trunk tests.
Why it matters
You now have a 15-minute, evidence-based way to measure trunk control in kids with CP.
Use the TCMS or TIS at intake and re-check every few months to show parents clear progress numbers.
Pick whichever scale is easier to score in your clinic; both are backed by strong data.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
In this study the psychometric properties of the Trunk Control Measurement Scale (TCMS) in children with cerebral palsy (CP) were examined. Twenty-six children with spastic CP (mean age 11 years 3 months, range 8-15 years; Gross Motor Function Classification System level I n = 11, level II n = 5, level III n = 10) were included in this study. To determine the discriminant ability of the TCMS, 30 typically developing (TD) children (mean age 10 years 6 months, range 8-15 years) were also included. For inter-rater reliability, two testers scored all children simultaneously. To determine test-retest reliability, participants were reassessed on a second test occasion. For construct validity, the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) was administered. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) ranged from 0.91 to 0.99 for inter-rater and test-retest reliability. Kappa and weighted kappa values ranged for all but one item from 0.45 to 1. The standard error of measurement was 2.9% and 3.4%, and the smallest detectable difference for repeated measurements was 8% and 9.43% between raters and test-retest, respectively. Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranged from 0.82 to 0.94. Spearman rank correlation with the GMFM was 0.88 and increasing coefficients were found from dimension B to E. Subscale and total TCMS scores showed significant differences between children with CP and TD children (p < 0.0001). The results support the reliability and validity of the TCMS in children with spastic CP. The scale gives insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the child's trunk performance and therefore can have valuable clinical use.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2011 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2011.06.012