Development and preliminary validation of the Lower Extremity Activity Limitations Scale

Abstract

The prevalence of disabling musculoskeletal conditions in children underscores the importance of measuring function. The objectives for the current study were: (1) to develop an evaluative measure assessing function in adolescents with lower extremity orthopedic conditions and; (2) to provide a preliminary assessment of the validity, reliability and measurement properties of the newly developed scale. The Lower Extremity Activity Limitations Scale (LEALS) incorporates a 17-item self-report questionnaire and a 10-item functional performance test. Excessive internal consistency was established for both subscales of the LEALS. The construct validity of the LEALS was supported by its convergent validity with other measures of the same construct. Lastly, the LEALS self report scale was found to be more sensitive to change then the Activities Scale for Kids. Preliminary assessments suggest that the LEALS is a valid, reliable and responsive outcome measure assessing lower-extremity function in adolescents.