Article

OBJECTIVE: To examine the psychometric properties (test-retest reliability,
concurrent validity, construct validity) of the Balance Rehabilitation Unit (BRU)
during testing of sensory integration processes in healthy adults and individuals
with vestibular disorders. DESIGN: Experimental cross-sectional design. SETTING:
Clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Participants (N=90) included 30 subjects with vestibular
disorders (age range, 18-85y), 30 young healthy adults (age range, 18-50y), and
30 older healthy adults (age range, 60-85y). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN
OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants were tested twice with the BRU and once with the
SMART EquiTest Sensory Organization Test (SOT). The center of pressure (COP) in
the anteroposterior direction (COPap) and the COP in the mediolateral direction
(COPml) were recorded. The COPap and COPml time series were used to estimate the
area and velocity of the COP. RESULTS: The intraclass correlation coefficient of
the COP area and velocity measures for the BRU for all subjects was at least .76
in all sensory organization conditions (P<.001). Significant correlations were
found between the BRU and the SOT, ranging from .64 to .81 for COP area and from
.44 to .76 for COP velocity. The older control group had significantly greater
COP area and velocity compared with younger controls for the BRU and the SOT. The
COP (area, velocity) was significantly higher for the younger individuals in the
vestibular group than the younger controls. CONCLUSIONS: The reliability and
validity of COP measurements obtained during testing of the sensory integration
processes were demonstrated using the BRU. Future work should examine the
responsiveness of these measures when individuals with balance disorders
participate in rehabilitation.
CI - Copyright (c) 2014 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS