title: Psychometric properties of functional balance tests in children: a literature review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Identifying balance problems are the first step towards monitoring and rehabilitation. Therefore, this paper aims to make an overview of the psychometric properties of the functional balance tests available for children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search was performed in PubMED and Web of Science on 8 February 2014 and updated on 6 July 2014. A conceptual framework for functional balance tests was defined, taking balance control components and task constraints into account. The tests were selected for inclusion by consensus of 2-3 reviewers using the conceptual framework.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen tests were investigated in 25 articles and analysed within the conceptual framework. The Timed Up and Go test, Pediatric Balance Scale, and Pediatric Reach Test are well investigated and all show good reliability. Validity remains unclear because of lack of a criterion standard to measure balance control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because of the lack of good methodological studies, strong evidence for the use of one or more functional balance tests in children cannot be provided. Moreover, it is necessary that a criterion standard to measure balance is established.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Evi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Verbecque
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil.|Functional Morphology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Paula Hentschel
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Lobo Da Costa
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vereeck
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.|Department of Translational Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hallemans
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000592:standards*