Relationship between Nintendo's Wii balance board derived variables and clinical balance scores in individuals with stroke.

The analysis used baseline data from an existing trial, not follow-up or outcome data. Dynamic reaction time and completion time analyses included 59 participants, not 69, because of missing data from software problems. The Berg Balance Scale groups were very uneven, with 4 participants in the moderate group and 55 in the high group, so the authors did not perform further group analyses. Cluster analyses produced uneven groups, such as 59 versus 10 for eyes-open weight symmetry, and the authors said this limited interpretation. The authors reported the significant dynamic relationships as negligible and said the results need caution. The authors said the clinical utility of the Wii Balance Board for fall risk may be limited, and newer Wii Balance Board models have been discontinued.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The paper is listed as supported by NIH extramural research.

Do not conclude that the Wii Balance Board can replace the Berg Balance Scale or Mini-BESTest. The statistically significant relationships were negligible, standing weight symmetry was not significantly related to clinical scores overall, and board-derived clusters did not separate people by clinical balance scores.