Reliability and validity of standing balance assessment index using a hand-held dynamometer in stroke patients.
Koji Iwamoto, Masaharu Yoshio, Yuichi Takata and 1 others
PMID 27942140WHAT IT FOUND
Pushing against a stroke patient's pelvis with a hand-held dynamometer until they lose balance measures standing stability reliably.
The force needed correlates strongly with standard balance scores. It is quick and works for patients too impaired to perform other tests.
Key findings
01The hand-held dynamometer assessment index showed almost perfect reliability when repeated by the same therapist or compared between two therapists.
02Scores from the dynamometer test correlated strongly with the Functional Balance Scale, supporting its validity as a measure of standing balance.
03This method requires less time than standard performance tests and can be used with patients who cannot walk, unlike the Timed Up and Go test.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study only included patients who could already stand and walk indoors, so it does not apply to non-ambulatory patients. Reliability was assessed on smaller subsets (30 for intrarater, 10 for interrater) rather than all 60 participants. The test measures only standing balance and cannot assess balance during walking.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this test measures overall balance or gait. It specifically assesses the ability to maintain a standing posture against external force and cannot evaluate stability while walking.