Trunk Control Test
What It Measures
The Trunk Control Test (TCT) checks how well someone can move and balance their trunk (the core muscles that support sitting, rolling, and getting up from lying down) which is often affected early after a stroke. A clinician watches the person perform four simple movements and scores how normally each one is done.
Developed by Collin and Wade, the TCT scores rolling to the weak side, rolling to the strong side, moving from lying to sitting, and sitting balance for 30 seconds, each rated 0, 12, or 25 points for a total out of 100. Occupational and physical therapists use it with adults in hospital, inpatient rehabilitation, and skilled nursing settings, most often in the first days after a stroke, since trunk control scores have been shown to help predict later functional recovery.
