*Poster 51: Evaluation of Balance Abilities in a Spinal Cord Injury Population: Concurrent Validity of the Balance Master

Abstract

Objective: To validate the use of the static and dynamic test of the Balance Master for a spinal cord injury (SCI) population. Design: Longitudinal and correlational study. Setting: A university-affiliated inpatient rehabilitation hospital. Participants: 32 individuals with an American Spinal Injury Association grade D SCI walking independently, with or without assistive walking devices. Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: Balance Master (static eyes open and closed test), rhythmic weight shift test (anteroposterior and lateral), and limits of stability test, Berg Balance Scale, and the 10-m walking speed. Results: The limits of stability test showed moderate to high levels of association with the Berg Balance Scale (-.463<Rs<.700; P<.01) as well with the 10-m walking speed test. The associations were weaker with static tests and some components of the anteroposterior rhythmic weight shift test (-.415<Rs<-.488; P<.05). No significant relationship was found with the mediolateral test. The Balance Master scores did not detect differences in balance performance between paraplegic and tetraplegic participants and did not show the ceiling effect of the Berg Balance Scale. Conclusions: The results suggest that the limits of stability test of the Balance Master is an alternative and valid approach to quantify balance abilities in an SCI population.