Article

The aim of this study was to investigate the concurrent validity of
the Smart Balance Master (SBM) tests in individuals with incomplete spinal cord
injury. Design: Correlational study. Subjects: A total of 32 individuals with an
American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale D spinal cord injury able to
walk 10 m independently, with or without walking assistive devices. Methods:
Outcome measures obtained from static and dynamic balance tests while standing
using the SBM were compared to data obtained from the Berg Balance Scale (BBS)
(14 items). Results: No difference in performance between paraplegic and
tetraplegic subjects was noted in the SBM tests. No ceiling effect was apparent
in the SBM tests. The highest levels of association with the BBS was found for
the limits of stability test (-0.416 < R < -0.752, p </= 0.05).
The limits of
stability test also correlated significantly with the majority of the other SBM
tests and, except for the weight-shifting test, was completed by
all but two
participants. Conclusion: The limits of stability test of the SBM system appears
to be useful for assessing dynamic standing-balance ability in spinal cord injury
subjects and could potentially be used to complement the BBS.

Langue : ANGLAIS