Pediatric balance scale: a modified version of the berg balance scale for the school-age child with mild to moderate motor impairment.
OBJECTIVE
The Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS), a modification of Berg's Balance Scale, was developed as a balance measure for school-age children with mild to moderate motor impairments. The purpose of this study was to determine the test-retest and interrater reliability of the PBS.


METHODS
To determine test-retest reliability, 20 children (aged five to 15 years) with known balance impairments were tested by one examiner on the PBS. Ten pediatric physical therapists independently scored 10 randomly selected videotaped test sessions.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference in total test scores [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) model 3,1 = 0.998] or individual items (Kappa Coefficients, k = 0.87 to 1.0; Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficients, r = 0.89 to 1.0) measured by one therapist on two occasions. No significant difference among ratings by different physical therapists was found on the PBS for total test score (ICC 3,1 = 0.997).


CONCLUSIONS
The PBS has been demonstrated to have good test-retest and interrater reliability when used with school-age children with mild to moderate motor impairments.
Franjoine
Mary Rose
MR
Physical Therapy Program, Daemen College, Amherst, New York 14226, USA. mfranjoi@daemen.edu
Gunther
Joan S
JS
Taylor
Mary Jean
MJ