Estimating postural control with the balance rehabilitation unit: measurement consistency, accuracy, validity, and comparison with dynamic posturography.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the psychometric properties (test-retest reliability, concurrent validity, construct validity) of the Balance Rehabilitation Unit (BRU) during testing of sensory integration processes in healthy adults and individuals with vestibular disorders.


METHODS
Experimental cross-sectional design.


METHODS
Clinic.


METHODS
Participants (N=90) included 30 subjects with vestibular disorders (age range, 18-85y), 30 young healthy adults (age range, 18-50y), and 30 older healthy adults (age range, 60-85y).


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Participants were tested twice with the BRU and once with the SMART EquiTest Sensory Organization Test (SOT). The center of pressure (COP) in the anteroposterior direction (COPap) and the COP in the mediolateral direction (COPml) were recorded. The COPap and COPml time series were used to estimate the area and velocity of the COP.


RESULTS
The intraclass correlation coefficient of the COP area and velocity measures for the BRU for all subjects was at least .76 in all sensory organization conditions (P<.001). Significant correlations were found between the BRU and the SOT, ranging from .64 to .81 for COP area and from .44 to .76 for COP velocity. The older control group had significantly greater COP area and velocity compared with younger controls for the BRU and the SOT. The COP (area, velocity) was significantly higher for the younger individuals in the vestibular group than the younger controls.


CONCLUSIONS
The reliability and validity of COP measurements obtained during testing of the sensory integration processes were demonstrated using the BRU. Future work should examine the responsiveness of these measures when individuals with balance disorders participate in rehabilitation.
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA. Electronic address: alahmarika@gmail.com.
Khalid A
KA
Alahmari
Department of Physical Therapy, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA; Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
Gregory F
GF
Marchetti
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA; Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
Patrick J
PJ
Sparto
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA; Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
Joseph M
JM
Furman
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA; Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
Susan L
SL
Whitney
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063165:Neurotology; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
AP; BRU; Balance Rehabilitation Unit; COP; COP(ap); COP(ml); CTSIB; Clinical Test of Sensory Integration on Balance; HMD; ICC; MDC%; MDC(95); ML; Posture; Rehabilitation; SOT; Sensory Organization Test; anteroposterior; center of pressure; center of pressure in the anteroposterior direction; center of pressure in the mediolateral direction; head-mounted display; intraclass correlation coefficient; mediolateral; minimal detectable change at the 95% confidence level; minimal detectable change proportion