An investigation into the reliability and variability of wobble board performance in a healthy population using the SMARTwobble instrumented wobble board

Abstract

ObjectivesThere is clinical need to provide quantification of wobble board performance. This study aimed to investigate, in a healthy population, wobble board performance, using an instrumented wobble board. DesignExperimental-observational. SettingClinical setting, Bournemouth University. ParticipantsThirty-two healthy volunteers. Main outcome measuresWobble board performance was measured using time spent in tilt angle bandings, on the edge and number of edge contacts. Time was normalised to total time, yielding time as a percentage. ResultsMean (sd) intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) for percentage-time in each banding was 0.71(0.1); 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.67–0.76) indicating good consistency with repeated performances. Mean (sd) standard error of measurement (SEM) for percentage-time was 4.2% (1.3%); 95% CI (3.6–4.7%) indicating small errors associated with repeated performances. Minimal detectable change was small for percentage-time in tilt bandings (9%) and number of edge contacts (27). One-way ANOVA demonstrated that eyes closed yielded significantly different results to all other conditions. Time in the outer tilt band, on the edge and number of edge contacts may be better at discriminating between tasks in healthy volunteers. ConclusionsThe SMARTwobble board is reliable for measuring balance within a healthy population and provides reference for further clinical studies.