A postural adaptation test for stroke patients.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the interrater reliability of the Advanced Mobility and Balance Scale (AMBS) and to determine its discriminative capacity in stroke patients.


METHODS
Twelve hemiparetic patients and six healthy elderly volunteers were videotaped while: (1) executing rapid head motions during standing and walking; and (2) standing and walking on a slope. Five physical therapists viewed the videotapes to establish interrater reliability.


RESULTS
Interrater reliability: Intraclass correlation ratios ranged from 0.93-0.97 for the AMBS global as well as slope and head turn subscores. Construct validity: One-way ANOVAs and post-hoc pairwise comparisons were performed to determine whether there was a difference in scores between high (HFL) and low functional-level (LFL) stroke patients (based on gait speed) and healthy subjects. Mean (+/-SD) global scores were 45 +/- 3 for healthy subjects, 40 +/- 9 for HFL stroke patients and 25 +/- 1 for LFL stroke patients (p < 0.05 for HFL versus LFL patients and LFL patients versus healthy subjects). The AMBS slope subscores were 22 +/- 2, 19 +/- 5, 9 +/- 7 for healthy, HFL and LFL subjects respectively (p < 0.05 for HFL versus LFL patients and LFL patients versus healthy subjects).


CONCLUSIONS
The AMBS has excellent interrater reliability and good discriminative capacities.
Kairy
D
D
Jewish Rehabilitation Hospital Research Centre, Laval, Quebec, Canada.
Paquet
N
N
Fung
J
J
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000379:methods; D004856:Postural Balance; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D014743:Videotape Recording