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Updated: Jan 16, 2026
The Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test MSPT: An iPad-Based Disability Assessment Tool
Published on: June 30, 2014
Validity, intra-rater and inter-rater reliability, and minimal detectable change of the two-minute step test in
Hakan Polat1, Zekiye İpek Katirci-Kirmaci2, Meltem Uzun1
1Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, SANKO University, Gaziantep, Turkey.
Aim:
This cross-sectional, observational study aimed to evaluate the validity, reliability, and minimal detectable change (MDC) of the 2-Minute Step Test (2MST) in patients with multiple sclerosis (pwMS).
Methods:
Fifty pwMS (12 males, 38 females) were included in the study. Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICCs) were used to assess the reliability of the 2MST, and the MDC was calculated using intra-rater ICC values from repeated measurements across two sessions. Convergent validity of the 2MST was evaluated by examining its correlations with the 2-Minute Walk Test (2MWT) and the Single Leg Stance Test (SLST). The 2MWT was selected to assess convergent validity in terms of gait endurance, while the SLST was included to explore the contribution of balance to overall construct validity.
Results:
The mean Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of the participants was 1.84 ± 1.13 (range: 1.0-4.0). The 2MST demonstrated excellent intra-rater (ICC = 0.948-0.963) and inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.939-0.986). Intra-rater MDC ranged from 7.05 to 7.30 steps, while inter-rater MDC ranged from 4.24 to 7.91 steps. Standard error of measurement (SEM) and MDC percentages were within acceptable limits (SEM%: 5.02 %-9.45 %; MDC%: 7.02 %-13.23 %). The 2MST showed a moderate correlation with the 2MWT (r = 0.591, p < 0.001) and a weak correlation with the SLST (r = 0.394, p = 0.005).
Conclusions:
The 2MST is a valid and reliable tool for assessing physical performance in pwMS with mild to moderate disability. It is a brief, simple test that requires minimal equipment and space, making it suitable for use in clinical settings. The MDC values indicate that the 2MST can detect changes in physical performance beyond measurement error, supporting its potential as a tool for clinical monitoring. However, longitudinal studies are needed to confirm its responsiveness to disease progression and its relationship with changes in EDSS scores.
Trial Registration:
NCT06849960.
