The Virtual Short Physical Performance Battery: Psychometric Properties and Validation in Older Adults With Multiple Sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: There are increasing numbers of older adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) who undergo declines in physical function that require attention of clinicians and researchers. Objective and perceived measures of disablement feasible for clinical and residential settings, such as the Short Physical Performance Battery and its virtual counterpart (vSPPB), are critical for defining the degree of disablement.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the psychometric properties and validity of the vSPPB as a measure of perceived lower extremity physical function in older adults with MS (age ≥60 years).

METHOD: The sample included 35 older adults with MS and 35 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (age ≥60 years) who completed a battery of assessments, including the vSPPB.

RESULTS: The vSPPB performed satisfactorily in older adults with MS regarding data quality, scaling assumptions, and acceptability (i.e., psychometrics). The vSPPB further demonstrated criterion, known-groups, convergent, and discriminant construct validity.

CONCLUSION: This report provides evidence for the validity of vSPPB scores as a measure of perceived lower extremity physical function in older adults with MS.