Segmental Assessment of Trunk Control (SATCo)
Descriptive Information
Title: Segmental Assessment of Trunk Control (SATCo)
Edition: Information not available at this time
Dates of Publication and Revision: Information not available at this time
Author (s): Information not available at this time
Source (publisher or distributor, address): Information not available at this time
Costs (booklets, forms, kit): Information not available at this time
Purpose: provides systematic method of assessing discrete levels of trunk control in children with motor and/or cognitive disabilities.
Type of Test: Screening
Target Population and Ages: Young Children (age group not explicitly stated)
Time Requirements -Administration and Scoring: Not mentioned
Test Administration
Administration: Administered by a qualified professional
Scoring:
Definition of Control: Stable neutral vertical alignment (brief deviation <20 degrees). Allow for normal cervical, thoracic, lumbar curves.
You Score only what you see: If control is not demonstrated, score as absence of control (-) or not tested (NT). If you believe the child has control but performance demonstrating control cannot be elicited and a compensatory strategy persists during testing than it must be scored (NT). Likewise if the tester made an error of alignment that prevents assessment of true vertical control it must be scored NT. NT should always contain a comment regarding the nature of the error for future reference. Presence of control is scored with a check mark at that level.
Scores range from 1-8 with greater trunk control represented by higher scores.
Type of information, resulting from testing: Provides systematic method of assessing discrete levels of trunk control in children with motor disabilities.
Environment for Testing: In clinic
Equipment and Materials Needed: Bench of appropriate height and, preferably, a strapping system attached to the bench in order to ensure that the child’s pelvis is maintained in a neutral position. Use of a video camera is useful for later review of the test.
Examiner Qualifications: None; however scoring may be more reliable with experienced raters.
Psychometric Characteristics: Not available
Standardization/normative data: None
Evidence of Reliability: Inter-rater reliability was excellent for the total data set at .84 and for both subsets of infants with TD and children with neuromotor disability. Intra-rater reliability was also excellent at .98 across all data sets and aspects of control.
Evidence of Validity: Tests of concurrent validity with the Alberta Infant Motor Scales resulted in coefficients ranging from .86 to .88.
Evaluative
Summary Comments
Strengths: The SATCo is a reliable and valid measure allowing clinicians greater specificity in assessing trunk control. The SATCo can be used for children with a broad range of abilities including those with more severe motor and cognitive deficits.
Weaknesses: Specific equipment is required to administer the test accurately. The test also requires some training in order for raters to administer the SATCo in a more reliable manner.
Clinical Applications: The SATCo allows for discrete assessment of static, active and reactive trunk control in children with and without the ability to sit independently. In addition, the SATCo allows reliable assessment of trunk control in very young children with cognitive deficits since little is required of the child in terms of cooperation.
References:
Butler P, Saavedra S, Sofranac M, Jarvis S, Woollacott M. Refinement, Reliability and Validity of the Segmental Assessment of Trunk Control (SATCo). Pediatric physical therapy : the official publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy Association. 2010;22(3):246-257. doi:10.1097/PEP.0b013e3181e69490.
Article Review:
Temcharoensuk P, Lekskulchai R, Akamanon C, Ritruechai P, Sutcharitpongsa S. Effect of horseback riding versus a dynamic and static horse riding simulator on sitting ability of children with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Physical Therapy Science. 2015;27(1):273-277. doi:10.1589/jpts.27.273.
The purpose of this article was to investigate the immediate effects of horseback riding and a dynamic and static horseback-riding simulator on sitting ability of children with cerebral palsy. This is an important aspect of function to improve since more than half of children with CP have spasticity leading to difficulties in controlling posture and movements required for adequate hand function and learning. HR has been used previously as a physical therapy intervention that aims to promote postural stability in children with CP. However, this intervention is often not available for most children due to limited access to horses, unpredictable weather, relatively high cost, and some children being reluctant to make contact with real horses. Therefore, the idea of imitating HR with a dynamic saddle was introduced. 30 children, a sample size of 10 per group, were recruited from a rehabilitation center. Inclusion criteria consisted of the following: a diagnosis of bilateral spastic CP, classification according to Gross Motor Function Classification system (GMFMCS) within levels II and III) and no participation in any horse riding sessions within 1 year prior to the study. Exclusion criteria consisted of children with congenital anomalies and cognitive problems. Post intervention, the children in each group were re-assessed within 10 minutes. For the three groups of 10 children: Horseback riding (HR), Dynamic Horse riding simulator (DHS) and static horse riding simulator (SHS). Prior to intervention, each child was assessed with regard to sitting ability by using the SATCo and GMFM-66 siting dimensions. The total riding time (intervention) for each group was 30 minutes.
Regarding sitting ability as measured by the SATCo, the children who received the HR, showed improvements in statc, active, and reactive control in sitting positions. The children in the DHS group, who received no contact with real horses, showed improvements in active and reactive control. The children in the SHS group only improved their active control in sitting. Strengths of the study include the randomization of grouping and reliability and validity of the tests and measures the researchers chose to use. Limitations of the study include a relatively small sample size, the lack of a control group, and small treatment dosage (30 min). This study indicates high positive benefits of HR in children with CP. However, due to potential limitations in the availability of HR to all patient populations, DHS can serve as and adequate substitute in terms of providing improvements in sitting posture.
2 responses to “Segmental Assessment of Trunk Control (SATCo)”
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Great work Dan! When you mentioned it needs to be a qualified professional, I was curious to know if this is an outcome measure needing a certification (such as the FIM) or if this is one any physical therapist can pick up and use? Thanks!
Excellent question Matt! Any physical therapist can perform this outcome measure. However, being trained/having previous experience with performing this outcome measure seems to improve the reliability of the results.