[ validity study of the modified Tardieu scale in measruing poststroke knee extensor spasticity]

The Modified Tardieu Scale [MTS] is a clinical scale for measuring the degree of muscle spasticity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of the MTS in measuring poststroke knee extensor spasticity. This was a cross-sectional study performed in 2012 at a university clinic of neurological physiotherapy in Tehran, Iran, with repeated measurements. In the present study, 15 poststroke patients with a mean age of 53.8 +/- 14.0 years and mean time since stroke of 40.0 +/- 32.2 months participated. The knee extensor muscle spasticity was assessed using the MTS to calculate the R2-R1 as the main clinical measure. To calculate the work, an isokinetic dynamometer was used to quantify torque-angle data during passive movements at 4 speeds [60°, 120°, 180°, and 240°/sec]. The linear regression was used to calculate the slope for the work-velocity data [Joule/[degree/sec]]. There were significant differences between works done by the dynamometer at four speeds; as the speed increased the work decreased [P < 0.01]. Mean [standard deviation] slope for the work-velocity data was -0.76 [0.78]. There was no significant correlation between the dynamic component of MTS [R2-R1] and slope for the work-velocity data. The results indicate that the MTS might not be a valid measure for assessing knee extensor muscle spasticity in this sample of patients after stroke

[Development, cultural adaptation, reliability and validity of persian version of sino-nasal outcome test in chronic rhinosinusitis: a brief report]

Background: The sino- nasal outcome test 20 [SNOT-20] is a self- report measure for the assessment of patients with rhinosinusitis. The aim of the present study was to translate the SNOT-20 into Persian, and to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Persian SNOT-20

Methods: The SNOT-20 was translated from English into Persian. Thirty patients with chronic rhinosinusitis completed the Persian SNOT-20 two times with an interval of 1-2 weeks. Thirty healthy volunteers completed the Persian SNOT-20 for the evaluation of discriminant validity

Results: Cronbach's alpha coefficient values were high with 0.88 for test and 0.90 for retest. ICC for test-retest reliability was 0.95. The scores of patients were significantly higher than those of the healthy subjects. There were no floor and ceiling effects

Conclusion: The Persian SNOT-20 is a reliable and valid measure for the assessment of Persian speaking patients with rhinosinusitis