Dynamic balance assessment using an unstable board in community-dwelling elderly people.

The study included only older adults who could walk independently and attend the university, so it may not apply to frailer or more impaired patients. Only 9 of 59 participants reported a fall in the previous year, and none had multiple falls, so the sample was too high-functioning to test whether board scores separate people with and without fall history. Several Mini-BESTest subscales had ceiling effects, with 55 of 59 participants at maximum on sensory orientation and 41 of 59 on anticipatory postural adjustments, which limits how much difference the standard tests can show. Three participants were excluded after meeting the initial criteria because of knee osteoarthritis, and two were excluded because of acute onset back pain. The study did not follow participants to see whether board scores predicted future falls. The study did not use electromyography or three-dimensional motion analysis to confirm the balance strategies proposed.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Do not conclude that the unstable board predicts falls or is ready to replace standard balance tests. The study did not follow participants to see future falls, and it only showed front-to-back board sway went with poorer performance on some balance tests in high-functioning older adults. Side-to-side sway did not go with any standard test.