title: Systematic review of the psychometric properties of balance measures for cerebellar ataxia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review systematically the psychometric properties of balance measures for use in people with cerebellar ataxia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medline, AMED, CINAHL, Web of Science and EMBASE were searched between 1946 and April 2014.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two reviewers independently searched data sources. Cerebellar-specific and generic measures of balance were considered. Included studies tested psychometric properties of balance measures in people with cerebellar ataxia of any cause. Quality of reported studies was rated using the Consensus Based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-one articles across which 16 measures had been tested were included for review. Using the COSMIN, quality of methodology in studies investigating psychometric properties of generic balance measures (n=10) was rated predominantly as 'poor'. Furthermore, responsiveness has not been tested for any generic measures in this population. The quality of studies investigating psychometric properties of balance sub-components of the cerebellar-specific measures (n=6) ranged from 'poor' to 'excellent'; however, Minimally Clinically Important Difference has not been determined for these cerebellar-specific measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Posture and Gait (PG) sub-component of the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) demonstrates the most robust psychometric properties with acceptable clinical utility.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand stanley.winser@otago.ac.nz stanjwpt@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Stanley J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Winser
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Leigh A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Hale
authors.affiliation: Department of Allied Health and Medicine, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, UK.
authors.forename: Leica S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Claydon
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA Rehabilitation Research Chair at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Whitney
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Poonam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mehta
mesh_terms: D002524:Cerebellar Ataxia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D016206:Databases, Bibliographic; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: Ataxia; balance; outcome assessment (health care); reliability; validity