Psychometric evaluation of the L Test for functional mobility across EDSS-based severity levels in multiple sclerosis
- 1Incesu Ayse and Saffet Arslan Health Services Vocational School, Kayseri University, Kayseri, Türkiye
- 2Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Türkiye
- 3Sarıkaya School of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Yozgat Bozok University, Yozgat, Turkey
Abstract
Background: Functional mobility impairment is common in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and affects daily functioning.
Aim: The present study aimed to examine the validity and reliability of the L Test, a measure commonly used to assess functional mobility, across different levels of disease severity in individuals with MS.
Methods: A total of 35 individuals with clinically confirmed MS and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores ranging from 0–3.5 were recruited. Participants with EDSS scores between 0 and 1.5 were assigned to Group 1, while those with scores between 2–3.5 constituted Group 2. To determine inter-rater reliability, the L Test was administered on the same day by two independent physiotherapists.
Results: Group 1 comprised 17 participants with a mean age of 40.82 ± 13.62 years, while Group 2 included 18 participants with a mean age of 48.44 ± 8.89 years. The test–retest reliability of the L Test was excellent, with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.99 (95% CI: 0.999–1.000). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis demonstrated that the L Test had a very high discriminative ability in differentiating between the two groups (AUC = 0.997). Correlation analyses revealed a strong, positive, and statistically significant relationship between the L Test and the TUG Test in both groups (Group 1: r = 0.712, p = 0.001; Group 2: r = 0.856, p < 0.001).
Conclusion: The findings indicate that the L Test is a valid and reliable tool for assessing functional mobility in individuals with MS presenting with varying functional levels.
Related
- Development and psychometric evaluation of the Severity of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Scale (SoMES) and the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Occupational Status Scale (MEOSS)
- Unequal Burden: Sex Differences in Cannabis Withdrawal Symptom Severity in People With Multiple Sclerosis—A Short Report
- Familial Aggregation Patterns in Multiple Sclerosis and Their Association with Disease Severity
- Travel distance to tertiary healthcare reflects disease severity and medication access in Italian systemic sclerosis patients: a geographical study on adult-onset rare diseases from SPRING-SIR registry
- Toward a Dimensional Approach of Hypersomnolence: Psychometric Validation of the French Version of the Hypersomnia Severity Index in a National Quota-Based Sample of the General Population
BibTeX
@article{abakay2026psychometric,
title = {{Psychometric evaluation of the L Test for functional mobility across EDSS-based severity levels in multiple sclerosis}},
author = {Hanife Abakay and Mehmet Fatih Yetkin and Özge Baykan Çopuroğlu and Tuğba Dere},
journal = {Irish Journal of Medical Science},
year = {2026},
month = may,
doi = {10.1007/s11845-026-04463-3},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-026-04463-3},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Psychometric evaluation of the L Test for functional mobility across EDSS-based severity levels in multiple sclerosis
AU - Hanife Abakay
AU - Mehmet Fatih Yetkin
AU - Özge Baykan Çopuroğlu
AU - Tuğba Dere
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/05/25
JO - Irish Journal of Medical Science
DO - 10.1007/s11845-026-04463-3
UR - https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-026-04463-3
AB - Background: Functional mobility impairment is common in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and affects daily functioning. Aim: The present study aimed to examine the validity and reliability of the L Test, a measure commonly used to assess functional mobility, across different levels of disease severity in individuals with MS. Methods: A total of 35 individuals with clinically confirmed MS and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores ranging from 0–3.5 were recruited. Participants with EDSS scores between 0 and 1.5 were assigned to Group 1, while those with scores between 2–3.5 constituted Group 2. To determine inter-rater reliability, the L Test was administered on the same day by two independent physiotherapists. Results: Group 1 comprised 17 participants with a mean age of 40.82 ± 13.62 years, while Group 2 included 18 participants with a mean age of 48.44 ± 8.89 years. The test–retest reliability of the L Test was excellent, with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.99 (95% CI: 0.999–1.000). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis demonstrated that the L Test had a very high discriminative ability in differentiating between the two groups (AUC = 0.997). Correlation analyses revealed a strong, positive, and statistically significant relationship between the L Test and the TUG Test in both groups (Group 1: r = 0.712, p = 0.001; Group 2: r = 0.856, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The findings indicate that the L Test is a valid and reliable tool for assessing functional mobility in individuals with MS presenting with varying functional levels.
SN - 0021-1265
SN - 1863-4362
ER -