title: A comparison between the Static Balance Test and the Berg Balance Scale: validity, reliability, and comparative resource use.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Within a sample of acute post-stroke patients, to compare the score on the Berg Balance Scale and the Static Balance Test for validity, inter-rater reliability, and the expenditure of time.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, intra-individual, cross-sectional evaluation study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Acute stroke unit of a university hospital in Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 53 patients with acute stroke who did not have other pathology affecting their balance.
  
  
  METHODS
  For intra-individual comparisons of the Berg Balance Scale and the Static Balance Test, Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated. For inter-rater reliability, Bland Altman plots were drawn and the corresponding mean difference and limits of agreement were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Static Balance Test took three to five minutes; the Berg Balance Scale 20-30 minutes. There was a high correlation between the scores on the Berg Balance Scale and the Static Balance Test (r = 0.91). For the Berg Balance Scale, the mean difference between the two raters was 0.13 and the limits of agreement were small (-0.25; 0.51). For the Static Balance Test, the mean difference between the two raters was -0.02 and also the limits of agreement (-0.06; 0.02) were even smaller than for the Berg Balance Scale. Both scales showed excellent inter-rater reliability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Static Balance Test was compared with the Berg Balance Scale and turned out to be equally valid, more reliable, and takes much less time. For the moment, the scale can be recommended for the use in acute stroke care, especially for the daily routine therapy.
authors: Hanover Medical School, Hannover, Germany pickenbrock.heidrun@mh-hannover.de.
authors: Heidrun Maria
authors: HM
authors: Pickenbrock
authors: University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Diel
authors: University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany.
authors: Antonia
authors: A
authors: Zapf
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D004856:Postural Balance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Berg Balance Scale; Stroke; assessment; balance; rehabilitation