The purpose of this study was to establish the reliability of the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) translated into Korea in patients with stroke. It also aims to score the quality of trunk movement and to be a tool for the treatment. The TIS consists of three subscales that static sitting balance, dynamic sitting balance and co-ordination. The TIS score ranges from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 23. Twenty-five stroke patients (13 males, 12 females) were examined by two physiotherapists. Interrater and test-retest reliability were assessed. Kappa and weighted kappa values for the items of the trunk assessment of the TIS ranged from .67 to 1.00. Intraclass correlation coefficients for interrater and test-retest agreement were .95 and .97. Cronbach alpha coefficients for internal consistency range from .87 to .97. The TIS provide reliable assessments for the trunk and are valid scales for measuring trunk performance in patients with stroke. TIS can be used as a guideline for treatment and the assessment of quality of trunk activity.

The purpose of this study was to assess the test-retest reliability of heart rate (HR) and velocity measurements during peak effort and free treadmill walking tests in older patients with gait-impaired chronic hemiparetic stroke and control group. Twenty-two adults (13 men, 9 women; mean age, 73.7±5.2 yrs) with chronic hemiparetic stroke are the experimental group. Nineteen elderly people (5 men, 14 women; mean age, 72.3±3.5 yrs) were recruited as control group. Patients had mild to moderate chronic hemiparetic gait deficits, making handrail support necessary during treadmill walking. Free and peak effort treadmill walking tests were measured and then repeated at least two days later. Reliability was calculated from HR and walking velocity during free and peak effort treadmill walking test. Among the people who had strokes, HR [ICC(2,1)=.85, r=.86] and velocity [ICC(2,1)=.93, r=.93] were good parameters during free testing. Maximal testing generated good results for HR [ICC(2,1)=.81, r=.82] and velocity [ICC(2,1)=.96, r=.96] with the chronic hemiparetic stroke. In elderly people, HR [ICC(2,1)=.59, r=.62] and velocity [ICC(2,1)=.77, r=.76] were moderately reliable during free testing. Maximal testing produced moderate parameters for HR [ICC(2,1)=.74, r=.74] and velocity [ICC(2,1)=.66, r=.66] in the elderly. This study provides that free and maximal treadmill testing produce highly reliable HR and velocity measurements in adults with chronic hemiplegia using minimal handrail support.