Validity of Six Balance Disorder Scales in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis
By Cattaneo, Davide; Regola, Alberto; Meotti, Matteo; Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, Vol. 28, No. 12, pp. 789-795Publication Date: June 2006
Study conducted to evaluate the concurrent and discriminant validity of six tests of dynamic and static balance: (1) the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), (2) the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), (3) the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), (4) the Hauser Deambulation Index (HDI), (5) the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), and (6) the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC). The BBS rates the respondent’s performance from zero to four on fourteen balance items that explore ability to sit, stand, lean, turn, and maintain an upright position on one leg. The TUG is a measure of dynamic balance that requires the respondent to stand up from a chair, walk three meters, turn around, and sit down in a chair. The DGI measures the respondent’s mobility function and dynamic balance, as it measures walking, walking with head turns, pivoting, walking over objects, walking around objects, and going up stairs. The HDI rates gait performance on a scale of zero to ten, as zero means “no gait impairment”, while 10 means “restricted to wheelchair”. The DHI is a self-assessment scale that quantifies the respondent’s level of disability and handicap in three subscales: (1) physical, (2) emotional, and (3) functional. The ABC is another self-report scale that rates the respondent’s perceived level of confidence while performing 16 activities of daily living. These assessments were administered to 51 participants, as a psychometric analysis of the results indicated that the tests all demonstrated acceptable concurrent validity though were poor determinants of falls. Implications for future research are discussed.
Published by: Taylor & Francis, Limited (Website:http://taylorandfrancis.org)
International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (Web Site: http://www.isprm.org )
