title: Validating the Berg Balance Scale for patients with Parkinson's disease: a key to rehabilitation evaluation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the criterion-related validity of the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) in subjects with Parkinson's disease (PD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, correlational analysis between the BBS and accepted measures of PD motor and functional impairment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The federally funded PD research center, an interdisciplinary center of excellence for people with PD within a Veterans Affairs medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight men (average +/- standard deviation, 71.1+/-10.5 y) with confirmed PD. Their initial diagnosis had been made on average 5.8+/-3.6 years earlier. All could stand or walk unassisted and had mild to moderate disability. Patients who could not ambulate without assistive devices were excluded.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Correlational analyses between the BBS and the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor scale, Modified Hoehn and Yahr Staging (Hoehn and Yahr) Scale, and the Modified Schwab and England Capacity for Daily Living Scale (S&E ADL Scale).
  
  
  RESULTS
  BBS score showed significant correlations with indicators of motor functioning, stage of disease, and daily living capacity. BBS score was inversely associated with the UPDRS motor score (-.58, P <.005), Hoehn and Yahr Scale staging (-.45, P <.005), and S&E ADL Scale rating (.55, P <.005). In all 3 correlations, lower scores on the BBS (indicating greater balance deficits) correlated with higher UPDRS scores (indicating greater motoric or functional impairment).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results support the criterion-related validity of the BBS. Its utility in other balance conditions of older adults has been established. Rehabilitation interventions have been shown to improve the balance deficits associated with PD. Early referral and periodic reassessment is vital to achieving and maintaining improvements. Our research results agree with other published research in suggesting that the BBS may be used as a screening tool and ongoing assessment tool for patients with PD.
authors.affiliation: Southeastern Parkinson's Disease Research, Education, and Clinical Center, McGuire Veterans Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23249, USA. abu.qutubuddin@mail.vcu.edu
authors.forename: Abu A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Qutubuddin
authors.forename: Phillip O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Pegg
authors.forename: David X
authors.initials: DX
authors.lastname: Cifu
authors.forename: Rashelle
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Shane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McNamee
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Carne
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results