Modified Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke (mPASS)

Description

The Modified Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke (mPASS) is an assessment instrument designed to evaluate balance and postural control in individuals following stroke. According to the provided source, the scale consists of 12 items and assesses performance during both static and dynamic activities.

The instrument focuses on the individual’s ability to maintain or change body position under different functional conditions.

Purpose

The main purpose of the mPASS is the assessment of balance and functional mobility after stroke.

The scale allows the examiner to document performance in activities requiring body stability, positional changes, and transfers, thereby providing an overview of the patient’s functional motor abilities.

Scale Structure

The mPASS includes 12 items covering two main types of activities.

Static activities: include tasks such as sitting, standing still, and standing on the affected leg.

Dynamic activities: include movements such as rolling from supine to side-lying, moving from sitting to standing, and picking up an object while standing.

Scoring

Performance is evaluated using a 4-point scale.

The provided source does not specify the exact verbal anchors or numerical interpretation of the four response levels. Therefore, precise administration and scoring should follow the official version of the mPASS.

Relationship with the PASS and Berg Balance Scale

According to the source, the mPASS has similarities with the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), but there are important differences.

The Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke (PASS) specifically evaluates both the affected and unaffected leg and also includes transfers performed in lying positions. This makes the PASS suitable for patients with a lower level of functional ability.

The mPASS is an adapted version of the PASS in which several minor modifications were introduced, mainly to reduce ambiguity in test performance and administration.

Type of Instrument and Target Population

The source classifies the mPASS as a performance-based measure.

It is intended for adults and older adults and is related to functions involving the movement system, mobility, and level of impairment.

The principal anatomical region identified in the source is the lower extremity, while the associated conditions involve the nervous system.

Statistical Analysis

The provided material does not include detailed instructions for statistical analysis or specific reliability and validity coefficients.

Scores may be used to describe an individual’s level of balance and functional mobility and to compare performance across different assessment time points, depending on the clinical or research protocol being used.

Applications

The mPASS may be used in clinical and rehabilitation settings to assess postural control, balance, and mobility following stroke.

Its inclusion of both static and dynamic activities allows different aspects of functional motor performance to be monitored.

It may be especially relevant for individuals with lower functional ability, since the broader PASS framework includes tasks performed in lying positions as well as functional transfers.

References

Persson CU, et al. Modified Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke (mPASS). 2011.

Dutch version: Brouwer R. 2019.