Turkish validity and reliability of the Lower Limb Assessment Score (LLAS) in young adults

Emrah Afsar; Merve Yerlikaya Alpasar; İsmail Saraçoğlu; Zeynep Sena Namaz

doi:10.26900/hsq.3150

Authors

Emrah Afsar Kütahya Health Sciences University / Türkiye 0000-0001-9210-754X
Merve Yerlikaya Alpasar Kütahya Health Sciences University / Türkiye 0000-0001-8138-7996
İsmail Saraçoğlu Kütahya Health Sciences University / Türkiye 0000-0002-2621-2357
Zeynep Sena Namaz Kütahya Health Sciences University / Türkiye 0000-0002-4897-378X

10.26900/hsq.3150

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the validity and reliability of the Lower Limb Assessment Score (LLAS) by adapting it into the Turkish language. The Turkish version of the LLAS (TR-LLAS) has been developed through a multi-stage process in accordance with international guidelines. The Beighton Scoring System and the TR-LLAS were used in the assessment of participants. All participants were assessed by two independent raters who were blinded to each other's findings. The TR-LLAS was re-administered to a subgroup of participants (87 individuals) one week after the initial assessment to evaluate test-retest reliability. To assess the reliability of the scale, test-retest and inter-rater reliability analyses were performed using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). To examine criterion validity, the relationship between the TR-LLAS and Beighton total scores was investigated. The study included 103 participants (77 females, 26 male). The test-retest reliability of the scale was good (ICC [2,1]=0.875, p<0.001), and the inter-rater reliability was good (ICC [2,1]=0.798, p<0.001). A significant and moderate positive correlation was found between the Beighton and TR-LLAS scores (rₛ=0.518, p<0.001). Our results demonstrate that the TR-LLAS is a reliable and valid measurement tool. The TR-LLAS has been presented to clinical practice as a practical assessment tool for evaluating lower extremity hypermobility.

Keywords:

Joint Hypermobility Lower Extremity Reliability Validity

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