The intra-rater reliability of the balance performance monitor when measuring sitting symmetry and weight-shift activity after stroke in a community setting.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the intra-rater reliability of sitting symmetry and weight-shift activity measurements in poststroke adults.


METHODS
An intra-rater reliability study.


METHODS
A community setting.


METHODS
Adult stroke survivors attending stroke support groups within the community of Nottingham (U.K.).


METHODS
The Balance Performance Monitor used to measure sitting symmetry and weight-shift activity. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated. The Bland Altman method for assessing agreement is also presented.


RESULTS
We tested 49 participants (median age 73 years; interquartile range 68-81 years). Between-test reliability for sitting symmetry was high: ICC (1,1) = 0.93 (95% CI 0.87 < or = ICC < or = 0.96). The mean difference between the measures (d) was -0.08 (95% CI -0.48 < or = d < or = 0.31); the standard deviation of the differences (SDdiff) was 1.383. The coefficient of repeatability was 2.76; the 95% limits of agreement were -2.850 and 2.682. Between-test reliability for weight-shift activity was also high: ICC (1,1) = 0.86 (95% CI 0.77 < or = ICC < or = 0.92). Bland-Altman d = -0.08 (95% CI -0.19 < or = d < or = 0.35), SDdiff = 0.936. The coefficient of repeatability was 1.87; the 95% limits of agreement were -1.792 and 1.952.


CONCLUSIONS
The 95% CI for d for both parameters crossed zero, indicating that between-test bias is unlikely. Sitting symmetry and weight-shift activity measures demonstrated acceptable levels of reliability.
Sackley
Cath M
CM
School of Health Sciences, University of Birmingham, 52 Prichatts Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 1TT, UK. c.m.sackley@bham.ac.uk
Hill
Helen J
HJ
Pound
Kate
K
Foxall
Andy
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation