title: Reliability and sensitivity to change of the timed standing balance test in children with down syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the reliability and sensitivity to change of the timed standing balance test in children with Down syndrome (DS).
  
  
  METHODS
  It was a nonblinded, comparison study with a convenience sample of subjects consisting of children with DS (n = 9) aged 8-17 years. The main outcome measure was standing balance which was assessed using timed standing balance test, the time required to maintain in four conditions, eyes open static, eyes closed static, eyes open dynamic, and eyes closed dynamic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Relative reliability was excellent for all four conditions with an Interclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) ranging from 0.91 to 0.93. The variation between repeated measurements for each condition was minimal with standard error of measurement (SEM) of 0.21-0.59 s, suggestive of excellent absolute reliability. The sensitivity to change as measured by smallest real change (SRC) was 1.27 s for eyes open static, 1.63 s for eyes closed static, 0.58 s for eyes open dynamic, and 0.61 s for eyes closed static.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Timed standing balance test is an easy to administer test and sensitive to change with strong absolute and relative reliabilities, an important first step in establishing its utility as a clinical balance measure in children with DS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Physiotherapy, Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Ambala, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Vencita Priyanka
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Aranha
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Physiotherapy, Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Ambala, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Asir John
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Samuel
authors.affiliation: Department of Graduate Studies, School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Shikha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saxena
keywords: Absolute reliability; adolescent; children; postural stability psychometric properties; relative reliability