Introduction: Trunk control test is a simple measurement tool for assessment of bed mobility and sitting balance. The purpose of the literature review was to establish its psychometric properties in different patient populations. Methods: PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases were reviewed. Results: 17 studies were included. The trunk control test has fairly to moderate internal consistency (α = 0.75–0.86), excellent intra-rater reliability (ICC = 0.98), and very good inter-rater reliability (rho = 0.76) in patients after stroke and patients with neuromuscular disease. In nine out of ten studies, construct validity or known groups validity was confirmed. Concurrent validity was investigated in four studies. Prediction models which include trunk control test predict balance, walking ability, functional independence, length of stay, and the discharge outcome. This test has good responsiveness (ROC = 0.92), however a ceiling effect occurs commonly. Conclusions: The trunk control test is appropriate for use in patients with low level of mobility. Because of ceiling effect, it is not recommended for general use. Further studies are needed.
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