Intra- and interrater reliability of the Modified Ashworth Scale and its association with the Tardieu Scale in children with cerebral palsy

Mikša-Pušnik, Daša (avtor), Pirkmajer, Sergej (avtor), Tomc Žargi, Tina (avtor)

Background The Modified Ashworth Scale is a widely used tool for assessing spasticity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the intra- and interrater reliability of the Modified Ashworth Scale and its association with the Tardieu Scale in children with cerebral palsy. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 23 children with cerebral palsy were included. The intra- and interrater reliability of the Modified Ashworth Scale was assessed for the elbow, knee, and plantar flexors of the foot. The results of the Tardieu Scale were included to evaluate the association between the two scales. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to assess reliability, and Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used to assess the association between the Modified Ashworth Scale and the Tardieu Scale. All muscles assessed were included in the analysis, regardless of the anatomical classification of physical impairment. Results Intrarater reliability (ICC) in our sample was excellent for all muscles assessed (ICC = 0.91–0.99). Interrater reliability was generally good, with confidence intervals indicating moderate to good reliability in certain muscle groups (ICC = 0.80–0.89). A moderate positive correlation was observed between the Tardieu Scale and the Modified Ashworth Scale for all muscles assessed. Conclusions The results demonstrated excellent intrarater and generally good interrater reliability in a heterogeneous primary healthcare sample, with a moderate positive correlation between the scales studied. However, caution is warranted when interpreting findings at the individual level.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: children, cerebral palsy, spasticity assessment, psychometric properties, modified Ashworth scale, Tardieu scale
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: ZF - Zdravstvena fakulteta ; MF - Medicinska fakulteta
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Datum objave: 01.01.2026
• Leto izida: 2026
• Št. strani: 14 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 14, art. e21349
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-184192
• UDK: 616.831-053.2
• ISSN pri članku: 2167-8359
• DOI: 10.7717/peerj.21349
• COBISS.SI-ID: 283222019
• Datum objave v RUL: 01.07.2026

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: PeerJ
• Skrajšan naslov: PeerJ
• Založnik: PeerJ Inc.
• ISSN: 2167-8359
• COBISS.SI-ID: 31891929

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Projekti

• Financer: ARIS - Javna agencija za znanstvenoraziskovalno in inovacijsko dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: P3-0043-2020
• Naslov: Molekularni mehanizmi razvoja in delovanja skeletne mišice

• Financer: ARIS - Javna agencija za znanstvenoraziskovalno in inovacijsko dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: J7-60125-2025
• Naslov: Neživalski živčno-mišični model za preučevanje nevrogenega uravnavanja ionskega transporta in endokrine funkcije skeletne mišice in vitro (NeuroMyo)