Article

OBJECTIVES: To assess the reliability, validity, and ability to identify fall
status of the Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest), Mini-BESTest, and
Brief-BESTest, compared with the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), in older people living
in the community. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Community centers.
PARTICIPANTS: Older adults (N=122; mean age +/- SD, 76+/-9y). INTERVENTIONS: Not
applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants reported on falls history in the
preceding year and completed the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC)
Scale. The BBS, BESTest, and the Five Times Sit-To-Stand Test were administered.
Interrater (2 physiotherapists) and test-retest relative (48-72h) and absolute
reliabilities were explored with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)
equation (2,1) and the Bland and Altman method. Minimal detectable changes at the
95% confidence level (MDC95) were established. Validity was assessed by
correlating the balance tests with each other and with the ABC Scale (Spearman
correlation coefficients-rho). Receiver operating characteristics assessed the
ability of each balance test to differentiate between people with and without a
history of falls. RESULTS: All balance tests presented good to excellent
interrater (ICC=.71-.93) and test-retest (ICC=.50-.82) relative reliability, with
no evidence of bias. MDC95 values were 4.6, 9, 3.8, and 4.1 points for the BBS,
BESTest, Mini-BESTest, and Brief-BESTest, respectively. All tests were
significantly correlated with each other (rho=.83-.96) and with the ABC Scale
(rho=.46-.61). Acceptable ability to identify fall status (areas under the curve,
.71-.78) was found for all tests. Cutoff points were 48.5, 82, 19.5, and 12.5
points for the BBS, BESTest, Mini-BESTest, and Brief-BESTest, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: All balance tests are reliable, valid, and able to identify fall
status in older people living in the community. Therefore, the choice of which
test to use will depend on the level of balance impairment, purpose, and time
availability.
CI - Copyright A(c) 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Langue : ANGLAIS