Unexplained physical complaints in everyday physical therapy practice in The Netherlands

Abstract

of such patients: 0–5%); 12 patients (20%, 95% CI 11–32%) and 20 patients (33%, CI 22–47%) reached the maximum score on the BBS (56 points) at admission and after 4 weeks, respectively. Conversely, there were 7 patients at admission and 3 after 4 weeks who achieved 0 points on the mini-BESTest yet scored above 0 on the BBS. Spearman rank-correlations between the mini-BESTest and BBS scores (0.942 at admission, 0.931 after 4 weeks) were higher than Pearson correlations (0.883 at admission, 0.848 after 4 weeks), which confirms the nonlinearity of the association. There was no significant correlation between the progress scores (i.e., the differences between the score at admission and after 4 weeks) on the two tests (Pearson r= 0.203, p= 0.120; Spearman rho = 0.125, p= 0.341), which indicates that the tests are sensitive over a different ability range. Conclusion(s): The mini-BESTest is highly correlated with the BBS, but in a nonlinear way in the sense of being more sensitive for assessing balance in persons who had reached the maximum score when assessed using the BBS, whereas the BBS is more sensitive for assessing the patients with severely impaired balance. Implications:Mini-BESTest is suitable for assessing balance in stroke patients, especially those with mild balance disorders.