title: Relationships among measures of balance, gait, and community integration in people with brain injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the relationship among measures of gait, balance, and community integration in adults with brain injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two rehabilitation hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four community-dwelling individuals with brain injury, aged 18 to 61 years (mean = 32 years), who were able to walk at least 12 m independently or with supervision. Mean time post-brain injury was 52 ± 44 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community Balance and Mobility Scale, Dynamic Gait Index, Ten-Meter Walk Test for gait speed, and the Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean balance and gait scores were as follows: 54 ± 26 of 96 on the Community Balance and Mobility Scale; 19 ± 5 of 24 on the Dynamic Gait Index; and gait speed of 1.36 ± 0.88 m/s. Mean score on the CIQ was 16 ± 5 of 29. Correlations between the balance/gait measures and the total CIQ score ranged from 0.21 to 0.30 and were not significant. All 3 balance/gait measures correlated significantly with the CIQ Productivity subscale (range = 0.38-0.52).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ability of people with brain injury to engage in work/school/volunteer activity may be reduced by impairments in balance and mobility. Future research should explore this relationship and determine whether interventions that improve balance and mobility result in improved community productivity.
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy Program, Chatham University (Drs Perry and Woollard); HealthSouth Harmarville Rehabilitation Hospital (Ms Little); and The Children's Institute (Dr Shroyer), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Susan B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Woollard
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Little
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shroyer
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D062309:Community Integration / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult