Article

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the validity and reliability of the Berg Balance Scale
(BBS) for use in people with lower-limb amputation. DESIGN: Cross-sectional
study. SETTING: Research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals (N=30; age,
54+/-12y; 20 men) with unilateral transtibial (n=13), unilateral transfemoral
(n=14), or bilateral (n=3) lower-limb amputation of dysvascular (n=7), traumatic
(n=14), infectious (n=6), or congenital (n=3) origin. INTERVENTIONS: Not
applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: BBS, 2-minute walk test, L test, Prosthesis
Evaluation Questionnaire-Mobility Subscale, Activities-specific Balance
Confidence Scale, and Frenchay Activities Index; self-reported descriptors were
also collected, including frequency of prosthesis use, number of falls in 12
months before the visit, fear of falling, and daily mobility aid use. RESULTS:
The BBS had high interrater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient
=.945) and internal consistency (alpha=.827). Relations between the BBS scores
and those of other outcome measures were all statistically significant
(P</=.001). Significant group differences in BBS scores were observed for fear of
falling (P=.008) and mobility aid use (P<.001), but not for multiple (>/=2) falls
in the previous 12 months (P=.381). BBS items involving reaching forward, turning
360 degrees , tandem standing, and standing on 1 leg had relatively greater
frequencies of lower scores across participants. CONCLUSIONS: The BBS appears to
be a valid and reliable clinical instrument for assessing balance in individuals
with lower-limb amputation, but it may not be able to discriminate between
individuals with greater or lesser fall risk. Limitations in prosthetic motion
and control may be responsible for the challenges experienced on items of lower
performance. Future studies would be useful to assess the responsiveness of the
BBS to interventions aimed at improving balance in individuals with lower-limb
amputation.
CI - Copyright (c) 2013 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS