title: Effect of Leg Selection on the Berg Balance Scale Scores of Hemiparetic Stroke Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether selection of the nonparetic or paretic leg as the weight-bearing leg in item 13 (standing unsupported one foot in front) and item 14 (standing on one leg) of the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) influences the item scores, and thus the total score.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University-based rehabilitation laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community-dwelling people (N=63, aged ≥50y) with chronic stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  BBS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 4 BBS total scores ranged from 48.4 to 50.7. The total score was significantly lower when a participant was asked to step forward with the nonparetic leg in item 13, and stand on the paretic leg in item 14. Fewer participants received a maximum score with the BBS1 formulation than the others. In addition, the correlations with walking speed and Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale scores were greatest with the BBS1 score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that BBS1 was the most challenging formulation for our participants; this might serve to minimize the ceiling effect of the BBS. These findings provide a rationale for amending the BBS administration guidelines with the BBS1 formulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China (SAR).
authors.forename: Patrick W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Kwong
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China (SAR). Electronic address: Shamay.Ng@polyu.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Shamay S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China (SAR).
authors.forename: Tai-Wa
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China (SAR).
authors.forename: Raymond C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China (SAR).
authors.forename: Gabriel Y
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017741:Survivors; D016474:Weight-Bearing
keywords: Postural balance; Rehabilitation; Stroke