Correlations between Measures of Dynamic Balance in Individuals with Post-stroke Hemiparesis

None of the scales used are objective, to get objective measurements you are going to have to put sensors on the feet, legs and trunk of patients. At some point stroke is going to have to join the scientific world and use objective measurements. Only them will survivors actually know which interventions work.

Correlations between Measures of Dynamic Balance in Individuals with Post-stroke Hemiparesis

• Arian Vistamehr^a,
• Steven A. Kautz^{b, c},
• Mark G. Bowden^{b, c},
• Richard R. Neptune^{d, ,}

 Show more

Choose an option to locate/access this article:

Check if you have access through your login credentials or your institution

Check access

Purchase $35.95

• 

doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2015.12.047

Get rights and content

---

Abstract

Mediolateral balance control during walking is a challenging task in post-stroke hemiparetic individuals. To detect and treat dynamic balance disorders, it is important to assess balance using reliable methods. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), margin-of-stability (MoS), and peak-to-peak range of angular-momentum (H) are some of the most commonly used measures to assess dynamic balance and fall risk in clinical and laboratory settings. However, it is not clear if these measures lead to similar conclusions. Thus, the purpose of this study was to assess dynamic balance in post-stroke hemiparetic individuals using BBS, DGI, MoS and the range of H and determine if these measure are correlated. BBS and DGI were collected from 19 individuals post-stroke. Additionally, kinematic and kinetic data were collected while the same individuals walked at their self-selected speed. MoS and the range of H were calculated in the mediolateral direction for each participant. Correlation analyses revealed moderate associations between all measures. Overall, a higher range of angular-momentum was associated with a higher MoS, wider step width and lower BBS and DGI scores, indicating poor balance control. Further, only the MoS from the paretic foot placement, but not the nonparetic foot, correlated with the other balance measures. Although moderate correlations existed between all the balance measures, these findings do not necessarily advocate the use of a single measure as each test may assess different constructs of dynamic balance. These findings have important implications for the use and interpretation of dynamic balance assessments.

Keywords

• Berg balance scale;
• Dynamic gait index;
• Margin of stability;
• Angular momentum;
• Biomechanics

Correspondence to: Department of Mechanical Engineering The University of Texas at Austin 204 E. Dean Keeton Street, Stop C2200 Austin, TX 78712-1591. USA. Tel+.: 512 471 0848; fax: +512 471 8727.