The sensitivity of three commonly used outcome measures to detect change amongst patients receiving inpatient rehabilitation following stroke

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the sensitivity of three commonly used functional outcome measures to detect change over time in subjects receiving inpatient rehabilitation post stroke. DESIGN: Subjects were assessed within one week of admission and one week of discharge from an inpatient rehabilitation facility. Several parameters of sensitivity were calculated, including floor and ceiling effects, the percentage of subjects showing no change and the effect size of the change between admission and discharge. SETTING: The medical rehabilitation ward of an inpatient rehabilitation facility. SUBJECTS: Seventy-eight subjects receiving inpatient rehabilitation following a first or recurrent stroke. MEASURES: Five-metre walk, comfortable pace (gait speed), the Berg Balance Scale and the Motor Assessment Scale. RESULTS: Sixty-one subjects had complete admission and discharge data. Gait speed and the Berg Balance Scale were both sensitive to change and demonstrated large effect sizes. The Motor Assessment Scale item five also showed a large effect size and was able to detect change amongst lower functioning subjects. The other items of the Motor Assessment Scale were less useful, in particular, the effect sizes for upper extremity change scores were small (d=0.36-0.5) and the majority of subjects (44.3-63.9%) showed no change over time on these measures. CONCLUSION: Gait speed, the Berg Balance Scale and the Motor Assessment Scale item five were sensitive to change over time in this sample.     

Intra- and inter-rater reliability and validity of the Ottawa Sitting Scale: a new tool to characterise sitting balance in acute care patients

Purpose.?We present the new Ottawa Sitting Scale (OSS) developed to characterise sitting balance in the acute care setting with slow to recover patients. We provide intra- and inter-rater reliability measures of the OSS as well as a factor analysis of scale items.

Method.?Seventy-one subjects aged 21–92 years participated in this study. Original scores were compared to scores from videotaped original sessions. Performance on the OSS was compared to performance on the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the Physiotherapy Functional Mobility Profile (PFMP).

Results.?The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) obtained for intra-rater reliability was excellent at 0.99 with individual item ICCs ranging from 0.746 to 0.997. Similarly, the ICCs for inter-rater reliability were also excellent at 0.96 to 0.98 with individual item ICCs ranging from 0.723 to 0.985. In the factor analysis, two main factors accounted for 77.8% of the total item variance and could be reasonably identified as movement within base of support (BOS) and movement outside BOS. The BBS and the PFMP had floor effects for the subjects with the lowest OSS scores while there was an OSS ceiling effect corresponding to those with BBS scores of approximately 10 or more.

Conclusions.?The OSS discriminates between those subjects with low levels of sitting balance. Further studies will determine responsiveness to change, and compare the OSS with other postural control measures to identify the unique application of the OSS through the stages of recovery and rehabilitation.     

Mobility status during inpatient rehabilitation: a comparison of patients with stroke and traumatic brain injury

OBJECTIVES: To compare the mobility status (admission and discharge status, change in status) between patients with stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI) during inpatient rehabilitation and to determine the relationship between mobility status and outcome variables including length of stay (LOS). DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Free-standing tertiary rehabilitation center. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 210 patients with stroke (n = 136) and TBI (n = 74) consecutively admitted for inpatient rehabilitation. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical Outcome Variable Scale (COVS), a 13-item scale of mobility status (measured on admission and discharge from inpatient rehabilitation), and rehabilitation LOS. RESULTS: With age and time since injury controlled in the model, the TBI group showed a significantly higher mobility status on admission and discharge over the stroke group, but the change (improvement) in mobility status did not differ. The admission mobility status accounted for 61% and 60% of variability of the discharge mobility status for the stroke and TBI groups, respectively. The admission mobility status accounted for 40% and 50% of the variability in rehabilitation LOS for the stroke and TBI groups, respectively. Either the admission mobility status or the physical therapist's prediction of the discharge status could be used to determine the actual discharge mobility status, although the physical therapist's predictions were more accurate than using a statistical model. CONCLUSIONS: The TBI group showed a higher mobility status at admission and discharge from inpatient rehabilitation than the stroke group; however, the rate of improvement (improvement in mobility status per day) did not differ between groups. Admission mobility status using the COVS was an excellent predictor of discharge mobility status and rehabilitation LOS in stroke and TBI patients.     

To What Extent Can Multimorbidity Be Viewed as a Determinant of Postural Control in Stroke Patients?

Spruit-van Eijk M, Zuidema SU, Buijck BI, Koopmans RT, Geurts AC. To what extent can multimorbidity be viewed as a determinant of postural control in stroke patients?ObjectiveTo investigate the determinants of postural imbalance after stroke in geriatric patients admitted for low-intensity rehabilitation in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), particularly the role of multimorbidity.DesignCross-sectional study design.SettingFifteen SNFs.ParticipantsAll patients who were admitted for rehabilitation after stroke in one of the participating SNFs (N=378) were eligible.InterventionsNot applicable.Main Outcome MeasuresThe Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was selected as a measure of standing balance and the Functional Ambulation Categories (FAC) as a measure of walking balance.ResultsMultimorbidity was present in 34% of the patients. The patients with multimorbidity differed from the patients without multimorbidity with respect to age, proprioception, and vibration sense, but not for any of the cognitive tests, muscle strength, or sitting balance. Patients with multimorbidity had, on average, lower scores on both outcome measures. In linear regression analyses, both the BBS and FAC were best explained by multimorbidity, muscle strength, and the interaction between muscle strength and static sitting balance (overall explained variance 66% and 67%, respectively), while proprioception added only to the variance of the FAC.ConclusionsMultimorbidity was independently related to postural imbalance after stroke in patients admitted for rehabilitation in SNFs. Muscle strength and the interaction of muscle strength with static sitting balance were important determinants of both standing and walking balance, indicating these factors as essential targets for rehabilitation.     

自适应平衡康复训练装置对老年脑卒中患者平衡功能及害怕跌倒的影响

目的观察自适应平衡康复训练装置对老年脑卒中患者平衡功能及害怕跌倒的影响,探讨其改善平衡功能,降低害怕跌倒,提高移动能力的作用。方法选取2018年3月至2020年10月在大连康复疗养中心接受康复治疗的老年脑卒中患者46例,采用随机数字表分为对照组和实验组,每组各23例。对照组给予常规康复训练,实验组在常规康复训练基础上,给予自行研制的自适应平衡康复训练装置治疗。于治疗前(M0)、治疗1个月(M1),治疗3个月(M3)后分别采用Berg平衡量表(BBS)、中文修订版跌倒效能量表(MFES)及起立-行走测试(TUGT)对两组患者进行疗效评定。结果在M0、M1两组各项评分比较,均差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。M3,实验组BBS评分(39.48±2.35)分、MFES评分(87.47±11.67)分、TUGT计时(21.06±1.80)s较对照组BBS评分(38.09±1.13)分、MFES评分(80.76±10.45)分、TUGT计时(22.82±2.10)s均有改善,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论自适应平衡康复训练装置能够有效改善老年脑卒中后平衡功能,降低害怕跌倒,提...     

三种量表评定脑卒中急性期患者姿势控制能力的分析研究

目的探讨3种量表在评定脑卒中急性期患者姿势控制能力方面的应用情况。方法对45例脑卒中急性期患者分别采用脑卒中患者姿势评定量表（PASS）、Fugl—Meyer平衡量表（FM—B）及Berg平衡量表（BBS）对其姿势控制能力进行评定。所有病例均评定3次，评定时间分别为脑卒中起病后1周内、起病第3周时及出院前。选用Spearman统计法分析3种量表间的相关性；并同时计算3种量表的地板效应及天花板效应。结果PASS与FM—B及BBS间均具有高度相关性（r=0.867—0．957，P〈0．01）；在本研究各次评定中，PASS无明显的地板效应和天花板效应，而FM-B和BBS在第1次评定时均存在明显的地板效应（FM—B为26．6％．BBS为26．6％）。结论PASS与FM—B及BBS均能客观反映脑卒中急性期患者的姿势控制能力，而且PASS还能对脑卒中患者的卧位姿势控制能力进行评定，故在评定脑卒中急性期患者姿势控制能力方面，PASS优于FM—B和BBS。     

Investigating the internal validity of the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) using Rasch analysis: the TIS 2.0

Purpose.?To examine the internal validity of the static sitting balance, dynamic sitting balance, and coordination subscales of the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), a reliable and valid scale measuring trunk performance and sitting balance in people after stroke.

Method.?A total of 162 people after stroke were included in the study. Participants were recruited from an acute unit and in- and out- patient rehabilitation setting. To examine internal validity of the subscales of the TIS, we conducted a Rasch analysis by means of the Partial Credit Model. For each subscale, we examined whether the distribution of scores fitted the theoretical Rasch model.

Results.?The first item of the static sitting balance subscale had to be removed since it had a large ceiling effect. The remaining static sitting balance subscale did not fit the Rasch model (Chi-square?=?7.03, p?<?0.0001 with Bonferroni adjusted p-level?=?0.01). Both the dynamic sitting balance (Chi-square?=?42.65, p?=?0.0052 with Bonferroni adjusted p-level?=?0.005) and coordination subscales (Chi-square?=?7.87, p?=?0.4461 with Bonferroni adjusted p-level?=?0.01) fitted the Rasch model.

Conclusions. Internal validity of the dynamic sitting balance and coordination subscales was confirmed. Based on our results, we present the TIS, version 2.0 (TIS 2.0).     

Trunk performance after stroke and the relationship with balance, gait and functional ability

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate trunk performance in non-acute and chronic stroke patients by means of the Trunk Control Test and Trunk Impairment Scale and to compare the Trunk Control Test with the Trunk Impairment Scale and its subscales in relation to balance, gait and functional ability after stroke. Subjects: Fifty-one stroke patients, attending a rehabilitation programme, participated in the study. MAIN MEASURES: Subjects were evaluated with the Trunk Control Test, Trunk Impairment Scale, Tnetti balance and gait subscales, Functional Ambulation Category, 10-m walk test, Timed Up and Go Test and motor part of the Functional Independence Measure. RESULTS: Participants obtained a median score of 61 out of 100 on the Trunk Control Test and 11 out of 23 for the Trunk Impairment Scale. Twelve participants (24%) obtained the maximum score on the Trunk Control Test; no subject reached the maximum score on the Trunk Impairment Scale. Measures of trunk performance were significantly related with values of balance, gait and functional ability. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed an additional, significant contribution of the dynamic sitting balance subscale of the Trunk Impairment Scale in addition to the Trunk Control Test total score for measures of gait and functional ability (model R2 = 0.55-0.62). CONCLUSIONS: This study clearly indicates that trunk performance is still impaired in non-acute and chronic stroke patients. When planning future follow-up studies, use of the Trunk Impairment Scale has the advantage that it has no ceiling effect.     

Examining the Function In Sitting Test for Validity,Responsiveness, and Minimal Clinically Important Difference in Inpatient Rehabilitation

ObjectivesTo determine the responsiveness of the Function In Sitting Test (FIST), compare scores at admission and discharge from inpatient rehabilitation (IPR) with other balance and function measures, and determine the minimal clinically important difference (MCID).DesignProspective, nonblinded, reference-standard comparison study.SettingFour accredited inpatient rehabilitation units.ParticipantsPopulation-based sample of adults (N=125) with sitting balance dysfunction, excluding persons with spinal cord injury, significant bracing/orthotics, and inability to perform testing safely.InterventionsNot applicable.Main Outcome MeasuresFIST, FIM, and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) at admission and discharge, and Global Rating of Change for function and balance at discharge.ResultsThe FIST demonstrated good to excellent concurrent validity with the BBS and FIM at admission and discharge (Spearman ρ=.71–.85). Significant improvement (P<.000; 95% confidence interval [CI], 10.73–15.41) occurred in the FIST from admission (mean ± SD: 36.81±15.53) to discharge (mean ± SD: 49.88±6.90). The standard error of measurement for the FIST was 1.40, resulting in a minimal detectable change of 5.5 points. The receiver operator characteristic curve differentiated participants with meaningful balance changes (area under the curve, .78; P>.000; 95% CI, .66–.91), with a change in FIST score of ≥6.5 points designating the MCID. Findings support the strong responsiveness of the FIST during IPR as evidenced by the large effect size (.83), standardized response mean (1.04), and index of responsiveness (1.07).ConclusionsIn this study, the FIST correlated well with balance and function measures (concurrent validity) and was responsive to change during IPR. A clinically meaningful change was indicated by an increase in score of ≥6.5 points.     

Does the functional assessment measure (FAM) extend the functional independence measure (FIM) instrument? A rasch analysis of stroke inpatients

Adding the items of the Functional Assessment Measure (FAM) to the Functional Independence Measure (FIM instrument) has been proposed as a method to extend the range of the FIM, particularly when assessing functional status in rehabilitation patients with brain injury, including stroke. It has been proposed that this approach is especially helpful in ameliorating ceiling effects when brain-injured patients have reached the end of their inpatient rehabilitation stay or are being seen in outpatient settings. In the present study, 376 consecutive stroke patients on a Canadian inpatient rehabilitation unit were concurrently administered the FIM and the FAM. Rasch analysis was used to evaluate how well the FAM items extended the difficulty range of the FIM for both the Motor and Cognitive domains. Within the Motor domain, only the FAM item assessing Community Access was found to be more difficult than extant FIM items, and this item showed some tendency to misfit with the other motor items. In the Cognitive domain, the only FAM item with a higher difficulty level than the FIM items was that assessing Employability. Notably, strict adherence to scoring guidelines for these two FAM items requires taking patients out into the community to evaluate their actual performances, a practice unlikely in the typical inpatient stroke rehabilitation unit. Results indicate that use of the entire FAM as an adjunct to the FIM reduces test efficiency while providing only minimal additional protection against ceiling effects.     

本体感觉神经肌肉促进技术对脑卒中患者平衡功能的影响

目的探讨在社区康复治疗中应用本体感觉神经肌肉促进技术(PNF)对脑卒中患者平衡功能的影响。方法204 例脑卒中患者分为对照组(n=98)和观察组(n=106),对照组接受常规康复治疗,观察组在此基础上应用PNF。治疗前和治疗3 个月后分别采用Fugl-Meyer 下肢运动功能评定(FMA)、Berg 平衡量表(BBS)和静态平衡测定仪进行评定。结果治疗后两组FMA及BBS 评分均较治疗前提高(P<0.05),且观察组高于对照组(P<0.05);在睁眼与闭眼模式下,观察组轨迹长度、轨迹总面积、单位面积轨迹长均较对照组降低(P<0.05)。结论社区康复治疗中应用PNF 可提高脑卒中患者下肢运动功能和平衡功能。     

Detecting change in patients with stroke using the Berg Balance Scale

The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was designed to help determine change in functional standing balance over time. The purpose of this paper was to estimate the minimum detectable change score (MDC) using the standard error of measure (SEM), thereby providing a means to decide if genuine change had occurred. Calculation of the agreement regarding the presence of change as determined by the MDC and clinicians' perceptions was performed to give an indication of the validity of this criterion value. Forty-eight subjects who were receiving inpatient rehabilitation after stroke were assessed on consecutive days by two raters using the BBS. The MDC analysis suggests that a change of +/- 6 BBS points is necessary to be 90% confident of genuine change. Only 25/45 subjects showed agreement between the statistically derived presence of change and clinicians' perceptions of change. The lack of agreement may relate to the validity of the SEM/MDC methodology to determine the criterion BBS value, the heterogeneity of the subjects, or the use of clinician gestalt impressions of change.     

Is the Berg Balance Scale an Internally Valid and Reliable Measure of Balance Across Different Etiologies in Neurorehabilitation? A Revisited Rasch Analysis Study

La Porta F, Caselli S, Susassi S, Cavallini P, Tennant A, Franceschini M. Is the Berg Balance Scale an internally valid and reliable measure of balance across different etiologies in neurorehabilitation? A revisited Rasch analysis study.ObjectivesTo assess, within the context of Rasch analysis, (1) the internal validity and reliability of the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) in a sample of rehabilitation patients with varied balance abilities; and (2) the comparability of the BBS measures across different neurologic diseases.DesignObservational prospective study.SettingRehabilitation ward of an Italian district hospital.ParticipantsConsecutively admitted inpatients and outpatients (N=217); for 85 participants, data were collected both on admission and discharge, giving a total sample of 302 observations.InterventionNot applicable.Main Outcome MeasureBBS.ResultsMost of the BBS items had to be rescored, and 2 items (static sitting and standing balance) had to be deleted, to attain adequate internal construct validity (χ²₂₄=35.68; P=.059). The reliability of the Rasch-modified BBS (BBS-12) (total score, 0–35) was high (.957), indicating precision of measurement at the individual level. The analysis of differential item functioning (DIF) showed invariance of the item calibrations across patients' sex, age, and etiology. After adjusting for the possible effect of repeated measurements on person estimates, the analysis of DIF by timing of assessment confirmed the stability of the item hierarchy across time. A practical ruler was provided to convert item raw scores into Rasch estimates of balance ability.ConclusionsThis study supports the internal validity and reliability of the BBS-12 as a measurement tool independent of the etiology of the neurologic disease causing the balance impairment. In view of some sample-related issues and that not all possible etiologies encountered in the neurorehabilitation settings were tested, a larger multicenter study is warranted to confirm these findings.     

Circuit class therapy versus individual physiotherapy sessions during inpatient stroke rehabilitation: a controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of circuit class therapy and individual physiotherapy (PT) sessions in improving walking ability and functional balance for people recovering from stroke. DESIGN: Nonrandomized, single-blind controlled trial. SETTING: Medical rehabilitation ward of a rehabilitation hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-eight persons receiving inpatient rehabilitation after a stroke. INTERVENTIONS: Subjects received group circuit class therapy or individual treatment sessions as the sole method of PT service delivery for the duration of their inpatient stay. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Five-meter walk test (5MWT), two-minute walk test (2MWT), and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) measured 4 weeks after admission. Secondary outcome measures included the Iowa Level of Assistance Scale, Motor Assessment Scale upper-limb items, and patient satisfaction. Measures were taken on admission and 4 weeks later. RESULTS: Subjects in both groups showed significant improvements between admission and week 4 in all primary outcome measures. There were no significant between group differences in the primary outcome measures at week 4 (5MWT mean difference, .07m/s; 2MWT mean difference, 1.8m; BBS mean difference, 3.9 points). A significantly higher proportion of subjects in the circuit class therapy group were able to walk independently at discharge (P=.01) and were satisfied with the amount of therapy received (P=.007). CONCLUSIONS: Circuit class therapy appeared as effective as individual PT sessions for this sample of subjects receiving inpatient rehabilitation poststroke. Favorable results for circuit classes in terms of increased walking independence and patient satisfaction suggest this model of service delivery warrants further investigation.     

Reliability and validity of the modified functional reach test at the sub-acute stage post-stroke

Objectives. The first aim of this study was to evaluate the within-session reliability of sitting balance measures by assessing forward and lateral reach while sitting in both healthy subjects and patients post- stroke. The second aim was to evaluate the ability to document change in reaching while sitting over time in patients post-stroke. The third aim was to compare sitting balance results by the modified functional reach test (MFRT) to the Balance Master (BM), motor and function assessments.

Design. Data were collected on two occasions: Two to three weeks post-event and again six weeks later. On each occasion within-session reliability was tested using the intra-class correlations (ICC). The tests were performed three times; the second and third attempts were compared in order to test the within-session reliability. For assessing the concurrent validity, the MFRT results were compared with the BM results, Stroke Assessment Scale (SAS) and the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score using Pearson correlations.

Setting. In-patient rehabilitation department.

Participants. Patients after a first ischemic stroke 14 – 21 days post-event were recruited from the inpatient rehabilitation department at Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel. Excluded were patients with brain stem lesions and/or bilateral signs or hemorrhagic events as diagnosed by Computerized Tomography, patients with Mini-Mental State Examination < 20, those who were not able to sit unsupported for 10 sec and those who could stand without support for more than 30 sec.

Main Outcome Measures. The MFRT, performed while sitting in forward and sideward directions.

Results. The MFRT in all directions on both occasions exhibited high reliability (intra-class correlation coefficient range, 0.90 – 0.97). The responsiveness to the paretic side was high (effect size 0.80) and moderate for the forward and non-paretic side (effect size 0.57 – 0.60). A significant moderate correlation was found between MFRT and BM on both occasions.

Conclusion. The MFRT while sitting can be reliably measured and may serve as a useful outcome measure in individuals with stroke 2 – 8 weeks post-event.     

The Falls-Efficacy Scale,Swedish version: does it reflect clinically meaningful changes after stroke?

Purpose : The overall aim of this prospective investigation was to evaluate the ability of the Falls Efficacy Scale (Swedish version) (FES(S)) to reflect clinically meaningful changes over time. Method : Changes on the FES(S) scale were compared with changes in two different standardized measures of observer-assessed balance, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Fugl-Meyer balance subscale (FMB), and of motor function and ambulation in 62 stroke patients. Assessments took place on admission for rehabilitation, at discharge and 10 months after the stroke. Indices of effect size were used to evaluate responsiveness of the instruments. Three time periods were studied: admission to discharge (early response), discharge to 10 month follow-up (late response) and admission to follow-up (overall response). Results : The main findings are that the FES(S) is as responsive as BBS and FMB in detecting changes during the early and overall response periods. Changes in FES(S) scores between admission and discharge correlated significantly with changes in observer-assessed balance, motor function and ambulation scores. Conclusions : The present results suggest that measurement of perceived confidence in task performance using the FES(S) scale is responsive to improvement in patients with hemiparesis at an early stage after stroke.     

脑卒中患者平衡功能与自理能力的相关性

摘要 目的:评估脑卒中患者的平衡功能,以助于确定脑卒中严重程度、判断预后和制定康复方案。本研究观察Berg平衡功能评定表(BBS)和Fugl-Meyer平衡功能评定表(FM-B)在脑卒中偏瘫患者临床上的实用价值,并探讨平衡能力与日常生活活动能力的相关性。 方法：将符合条件的38例住院脑卒中偏瘫患者纳入本研究,对其进行3周的康复治疗,于康复治疗前后分别采用BBS、FM-B以及改良的Barthel指数（MBI）进行评定,对所得资料进行比较分析。 结果：康复治疗后患者BBS、FM-B、MBI评分均有增加,治疗前后各评分差异性比较,其中FM-B为P<0.05,BBS和MBI均为P<0.01。患者康复治疗前的BBS、FM-B评分与康复治疗前MBI评分的相关系数分别为0.58和0.55（P<0.05);患者康复治疗前的BBS、FM-B评分与康复治疗后MBI评分的相关系数分别为0.75和0.69（P<0.01)。 结论:BBS与FM-B都可反映急性脑卒中患者的平衡能力,在平衡功能评定上都有良好的一致性,但BBS对效果评定更为敏感,临床使用性更高;平衡功能与自理能力有较密切的相关性,平衡功能的缺失对脑卒中患者生存质量有显著的影响,可预测生存质量。 关键词 脑卒中;平衡功能;平衡量表;日常生活活动能力;康复 中图分类号：R743.3,R493 文献标识码：A 文章编号：1001-1242（2010）-02-0149-03     

The Berg balance scale as a predictor of length of stay and discharge destination in an acute stroke rehabilitation setting

OBJECTIVE: To examine the utility of the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) in predicting length of stay and discharge destination for patients admitted to a stroke rehabilitation unit. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Regional tertiary inpatient stroke rehabilitation unit. PATIENTS: One hundred twenty-eight of 141 patients admitted consecutively between January 1, 1995, and March 31, 1996. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Length of stay and discharge destination. RESULTS: Admission BBS scores and Functional Independence Measure scores correlated with length of stay (r = -0.6 and -0.5, respectively, controlling for age). Logistic regression revealed that the following were independent predictors of being discharged home rather than to an institution (adjusted odds ratio, 95% confidence interval): admission BBS (1.09, 1.04-1.13), age (.89, .83-.95), and presence of family support (11.7, 3.1-44.3). CONCLUSIONS: Measuring the BBS scores of patients upon admission to an acute stroke rehabilitation unit may assist in approximating length of stay and predicting eventual discharge destination.     

Specificity of functional mobility measures in older adults after hip fracture: a pilot study

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationships between measures of functional mobility (Timed Up and Go [TUG], Self-Paced Walking [SPW], Berg Balance Scale [BBS]) and global functional status (FIM trade mark instrument), the motor component of the FIM instrument (motor FIM), and the mobility/locomotor-specific FIM component (ML-FIM) in older patients admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation program after hip fracture. DESIGN: The TUG, SPW, BBS, and FIM instrument were administered within 24 hr after admission and before discharge to 20 patients undergoing inpatient rehabilitation after a hip fracture. RESULTS: Significant correlations at admission were found between FIM and TUG scores (r = -0.47; p < 0.05), TUG and motor FIM (r = -0.45; p < 0.05), TUG and ML-FIM (r = -0.58; p < 0.01), FIM and BBS (r = 0.60; p < 0.01), motor FIM and BBS (r = 0.50; p < 0.05), and ML-FIM and BBS (r = 0.45; p < 0.05). At discharge, a significant correlation was found between the motor FIM and SPW (r = -0.49; p < 0.05). Change scores between both the motor FIM and ML-FIM and TUG scores were significantly correlated (r = -0.47, p < 0.05, r = -0.50, p < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The FIM instrument, motor FIM, and ML-FIM may not be specific measures of functional mobility in patients with hip fracture.     

Does whole-body vibration training in the horizontal direction have effects on motor function and balance of chronic stroke survivors? A preliminary study

[Purpose] The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of whole-body vibration (WBV) in the horizontal direction on the motor function and balance of chronic stroke survivors. [Subjects and Methods] This study was a randomized controlled trial. Twenty-one individuals with chronic stroke from an inpatient rehabilitation center participated in the study. The participants were allocated to either the WBV training group or the control group. The WBV training group (n = 12) received whole-body vibration delivered in the horizontal direction (15 min/day, 3 times/week, 6 wks) followed by conventional rehabilitation (30 min/day, 5 times/week, 6 wks); the control group (n = 9) received conventional rehabilitation only (30 min/day, 5 times/week, 6 wks). Motor function was measured by using the Fugl-Meyer assessment, and balance was measured by using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test before and after the interventions. [Results] After the interventions, all variables improved significantly compared with the baseline values in the WBV training group. In the control group, no significant improvements in any variables were noted. In addition, the BBS score in the WBV training group increased significantly compared with that in the control group. [Conclusion] WBV training with whole-body vibration delivered in the horizontal direction may be a potential intervention for improvement of motor function and balance in patients who previously experienced a stroke.Key words: Stroke, Whole-body vibration, Motor function