BACKGROUND: Motor assessments are frequently applied by physical therapists. The Motor Assessment Scale (MAS) evaluates motor function and has been shown to be a reliable and valid instrument for stroke patients. However, no previous study has examined its reliability in Brazil. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the inter- and intra-rater reliability of the Portuguese version of the MAS in chronic stroke patients and to observe its comprehension and acceptability by Brazilian physical therapists without prior training on its use. METHODS: For inter-rater analysis, 23 physical therapists scored the functional ability of six video-recorded stroke patients during assessment with the Portuguese version of the MAS; intra-rater reliability was determined by the assessment of 15 video-recorded stroke patients by seven physical therapists, on two separate occasions, three weeks apart. At the end of the study, the physical therapists answered a questionnaire in order to assess the comprehension and acceptability of the instrument. Statistical analysis was performed using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and the Kruskall-Wallis non-parametric test to compare inter-rater data and using the ICC and the non-parametric Wilcoxon test to compare intra-rater data. RESULTS: High inter- (ICC range 0.93-1.00) and intra-rater (ICC range 0.80-0.97) reliability was found. There was excellent comprehension and acceptability of the scale. However, in some items there were questions on how to score the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The Portuguese version of the MAS was shown to be a reliable assessment instrument and had excellent acceptability by the physical therapists. However, due to the questions on scoring, we suggest that the physical therapists receive training on how to apply the scale. Further study is recommended on the validation of the translated version of this assessment instrument.
stroke; physical therapy; assessment; reproducibility of results
