Citation

Chan AC, Pang MY. Phys. Ther. 2015; 95(10): 1397-1407.

Affiliation

M.Y.C. Pang, PhD, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, American Physical Therapy Association)

DOI

10.2522/ptj.20140486

PMID

25882482

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest) is a relatively new balance assessment tool. Recently, the Mini-BESTest and the Brief-BESTest, which are shortened versions of the BESTest, have been developed.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate interrater and intrarater-interoccasion reliability, internal consistency, concurrent and convergent validity, and floor/ceiling effects of the three BESTests, and other related measures, namely, Berg balance scale (BBS), Functional Gait Assessment (FGA), and Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) among patients with TKA.

DESIGN: This was an observational measurement study.

METHODS: To establish interrater reliability, the three BESTests were administered by three independent raters to 25 participants with TKA. Intrarater-interoccasion reliability was evaluated in 46 participants with TKA (including the 25 individuals who participated in the interrater reliability experiments) by repeating the three BESTests, BBS and FGA within one week by the same rater. Internal consistency of each test was also assessed with Cronbach's alpha. Validity was assessed in another 46 patients with TKA by correlating the three BESTests with BBS, FGA and ABC. The floor and ceiling effects were also examined.

RESULTS: The three BESTests demonstrated excellent interrater reliability (ICC2,1=.96-.99), intrarater-interoccasion reliability (ICC2,1=.92-.96) and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.96-0.98). These values were comparable to those for BBS and FGA. The three BESTests also showed moderate to strong correlations with BBS, FGA, and ABC (r=.346-.811), thus demonstrating good concurrent and convergent validity. No significant floor and ceiling effects were observed, except the BBS. LIMITATIONS: The results are generalizable only to patients with TKA due to end-stage knee osteoarthritis.

CONCLUSIONS: The three BESTests have good reliability and validity for evaluating balance in people with TKA. The Brief BESTest is least time-consuming and may be more useful clinically.

Language: en