Validity and reliability of lower extremity position test in patients with multiple sclerosis

This study was planned to study the validity and reliability of the Lower Extremity Position Test (LEPT), which was developed to evaluate position sense in stroke patients, in individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). A total of 90 individuals with MS, 28 (31.1%) men and 62 (68.9%) women, with an average age of 42.35 ± 10.86 years, participated in the study. Demographic information of the participants was recorded in the study. LEPT was used to evaluate lower extremity sensation and a digital goniometer was used to evaluate kinesthesia sensation. To evaluate the balance functions of the participants, one-leg stand test (OLS) for static balance and timed up and go test (TUG) for dynamic balance evaluation, which are sub-parameters of BESTest, were used. A 10-meter walk test was used to evaluate walking function. In the reliability of LEPT, Cronbach alpha measurement value was found to be 0.788 (p=0,001) for 12 cm and 0.834 (p=0,001) for 22 cm. For the validity of the test, significant correlations were found between the ankle kinesthesia sense, TUG, OLS and 10 meter walking tests. According to these results, LEPT is a valid and reliable test to evaluate position sense in patients with MS. Keywords: Lower Extremity Position Test; Balance; Multiple Sclerosis; Proprioception; Position Sense