Reliability and validity of a force-instrumented treadmill for evaluating balance: A preliminary study of feasibility in healthy young adults.
Zhou Yuntao, Izumi Kondo, Masahiko Mukaino and 7 others
PMID 30931038WHAT IT FOUND
In 10 healthy young adults, repeated balance scores from the force-instrumented treadmill were consistent, but they often differed from the established EquiTest.
The treadmill may be feasible for research, not yet a validated clinical balance test.
Key findings
01Repeated treadmill balance scores were consistent: test-retest values were 0.61 to 0.72 for mCTSIB equilibrium and 0.81 to 0.97 for unilateral stance.
02Compared with the EquiTest, treadmill scores were weak to moderate for mCTSIB and mostly weak for unilateral stance.
03The study included only healthy young adults, and many scored high.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study included only 10 healthy young adults. The participants scored high, which may have produced a ceiling effect. The treadmill platform was more stable than the EquiTest, so scores may not be comparable. Validity varied across tests, especially for unilateral stance. No patients with balance disorders or dizziness were studied.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest and received no funding.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that the treadmill is a clinically validated balance assessment for patients. The study had only 10 healthy young adults, and treadmill scores often differed from EquiTest scores, especially for unilateral stance.