Citation

Takacs J, Garland SJ, Carpenter MG, Hunt MA. Phys. Ther. 2014; 94(6): 866-874.

Affiliation

J. Takacs, Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, American Physical Therapy Association)

DOI

10.2522/ptj.20130385

PMID

24557649

Abstract

BackgroundThere is a high incidence of falls in older adults with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Adequate dynamic balance and mobility reduces the risk of falls, however there are currently no validated, advanced tests of dynamic balance and mobility for individuals with knee OA.ObjectiveTo determine the convergent validity, known groups validity and test-retest reliability of a dynamic test of balance and mobility, the Community Balance and Mobility Scale (CB&M), in a knee OA population.DesignA cross-sectional design.MethodsTwenty-five individuals aged 50 and older with medial knee OA and an equal number of healthy controls completed the CB&M, and other tests of balance and mobility including: Berg Balance Scale, Timed-Up-and-Go, a test of maximal single leg stance time and the 10m walk (self-selected and fast walking speed). Convergent validity of balance tests with the CB&M was assessed using Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients, while known groups validity was assessed using independent t-tests. Test-retest reliability of the CB&M was assessed using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) and standard error of measurement (SEM).ResultsScores on the CB&M were significantly correlated (p < 0.01) with all measures of balance and mobility for those with knee OA. There were significant differences in CB&M scores between groups (p < 0.001). Scores on the CB&M were highly reliable in people with knee OA (ICC = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.70 - 0.99; SEM = 3.42 (95% CI 2.68 - 4.67).LimitationsFew participants had severe knee OA.ConclusionsThe CB&M displayed moderate convergent and excellent known groups validity and high test-retest reliability. The CB&M can be used as a valid and reliable tool to assess dynamic balance and mobility deficits in those with knee OA.

Language: en