Physiotherapy programs and assessment tools

• Autores: Giovanni Galeoto
• Directores de la Tesis: Jerónimo González Bernal (dir. tes.), Jesús Seco Calvo (dir. tes.)
• Lectura: En la Universidad de León ( España ) en 2025
• Idioma: inglés
• Número de páginas: 70
• Títulos paralelos:
  • Programas de fisioterapia e instrumentos de valoración
• Tribunal Calificador de la Tesis: Eva María Lantarón Caeiro (presid.), Esther M. Medrano-Sánchez (secret.), Juan Martínez Fuentes (voc.)
• Programa de doctorado: Programa de Doctorado en Salud, Discapacidad, Dependencia y Bienestar por la Universidad de A Coruña; la Universidad de León; la Universidad de Murcia y la Universidad de Salamanca
• Enlaces
  • Tesis en acceso abierto en: BULERIA
• Resumen

  • Neurological conditions, such as stroke and Parkinson's disease (PD), present significant public health challenges due to their high prevalence and profound impact on physical health, autonomy, and quality of life. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate four assessment scales—the Stroke Upper Limb Capacity Scale (SULCS), Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI), and Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT)—for Italian populations with stroke and PD.

    The SULCS and ARAT demonstrated excellent psychometric properties in stroke patients, with high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha > 0.90), strong inter- and intra-operator reliability (ICC > 0.99), and significant construct validity. While SULCS effectively assesses gross motor function, ARAT complements it by evaluating both gross and fine motor tasks, offering a comprehensive understanding of upper limb functionality. The HAQ-DI displayed strong internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.93) and construct validity in Parkinson’s patients, particularly in its correlations with mobility and daily living subscales. The JTHFT showed moderate internal consistency but high test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.754–0.988), demonstrating its utility in monitoring functional changes over time.

    Findings confirmed the reliability and validity of these scales for assessing upper limb function and autonomy in stroke and PD populations. Limitations, including reduced score variability in SULCS and task-specific challenges in JTHFT, suggest areas for refinement. Future research should focus on scale responsiveness and explore relationships between functional capacity, self-efficacy, and quality of life.

    This study provides validated tools for clinicians and researchers, enabling accurate assessment of functional impairments and personalized rehabilitation strategies for individuals with stroke and Parkinson’s disease.