title: Development of a multidimensional balance scale for use with functionally independent older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop and evaluate the validity and reliability of a multidimensional balance scale-the Fullerton Advanced Balance (FAB) scale-suitable for use with functionally independent older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Psychometric evaluation of the scale's content and convergent validity, test-retest and intra- and interrater reliability, and internal rater consistency.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urban community.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six community-residing older adults (mean +/- standard deviation, 75 +/- 6.2 y), with (n = 31) and without identified balance problems (n = 15), participated in the study. Four physical therapists with expertise in the assessment and treatment of balance disorders in older adults also participated in the content validity and/or reliability phases of the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Spearman rank correlation coefficients for convergent validity, test-retest, intra- and interrater reliability, and homogeneity coefficient values for rater consistency.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Test-retest reliability for the total balance scale score was high (rho = .96). Interrater reliability for total score ranged from .94 to .97 whereas intrarater reliability coefficients ranged from .97 to 1.00. Homogeneity (H) coefficients were greater than .90 for 6 of the 10 individual test items and all 10 test items had H coefficients of greater than .75 for both rating sessions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preliminary results suggest that the FAB scale is a valid and reliable assessment tool that is suitable for use with functionally independent older adults residing in the community.
authors.affiliation: Center for Successful Aging, California State University, Fullerton, CA 92834, USA. drose@fullerton.edu
authors.forename: Debra J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lucchese
authors.forename: Lenny D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Wiersma
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology