PHYSIOTHERAPY THEORY AND PRACTICE, cilt.37, ss.736-747, 2021 (SCI-Expanded)
Objectives: To investigate (1) the intrarater, interrater, and test-retest reliability of the timed 360 degrees turn test in people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS); (2) the minimum detectable change in the timed 360 degrees turn test times; (3) the concurrent and discriminant validity of the timed 360 degrees turn test times; and (4) the cut-off times that best discriminate people with MS from healthy people and fallers from non-fallers with MS. Method: Sixty-one people with MS (Expanded Disability Status Scale, EDSS, 0-6.5) and 34 healthy people were recruited in this cross-sectional study. The timed 360 degrees turn test was administered along with the Timed Up and Go Test, Berg Balance Scale, Four Square Step Test, and EDSS by two independent raters. Results: The timed 360 degrees turn test showed good intrarater, interrater, and test-retest reliability. Minimal detectable changes were 1.49 s and 1.53 s for the dominant and non-dominant sides, respectively. The timed 360 degrees turn test was strongly correlated with other outcome measures. Significant differences in 360 degrees turn times were found between people with MS and healthy people and between fallers and non-fallers with MS (p < .001 and p < .001, respectively). The cut-off times of 2.65 s on the dominant side and 2.42 s on the non-dominant best discriminated people with MS from healthy people, while 3.65 s on the dominant side and 3.75 s on the non-dominant best discriminated fallers from non-fallers with MS. Conclusions: The timed 360 degrees turn test is a simple and reliable tool for assessing turning ability in MS.