Assessing standing balance with MOTI: a validation study

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to determine the validity and reliability of a new device called MOTI for measuring balance by comparing its performance that with of the gold-standard force platform.

METHODS

The study involved collecting data from both devices in dual- and single-leg standing positions with eyes open and closed and using statistical measures to compare their performance.

RESULTS

The results showed that MOTI can accurately measure balance during dual-leg standing tasks but has poor to moderate performance during single-leg standing tasks. However, it could detect small changes in postural sway caused by a reduced base of support and/or visual feedback. The study also found that the test-retest reliability was poor to moderate for both devices.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that MOTI has potential as a reliable tool for measuring balance during certain tasks, but further research is needed to improve its performance during single-leg standing. This study provides valuable insights into the validity and reliability of MOTI for measuring balance and highlights the need for further investigation.

Reliability of the Wii Balance Board for measurement of steady state balance in children aged 6-9 years

PURPOSE

The Wii Balance Board (WBB) can be used for assessment of steady state balance (SSB), but its reliability has not been studied in children aged 6-9 years. This study aimed to determine the test-retest reliability of the WBB for measuring SSB in this population. A secondary aim was to determine the minimum detectable change (MDC) and standard error of measurement (SEM) of the WBB in children aged 6-9 years.

METHODS

52 children between 6-9 years of age participated. "One leg stand balance" was used to assess center of pressure velocity (COPV) and center of pressure area (COPA) on three occasions by the same tester. Two tests were conducted on the same day (Day 1) and the third test was performed on another day (Day 2), with a period of 5-13 days between the two test days. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC 3,1), SEMs, and MDC were calculated.

RESULTS

Intra-day test-retest reliability of COPA was found to be good (ICC3,1 =0.86; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.75, 0.92) and that of COPV was also found to be good (ICC3,1 =0.87; 95% CI: 0.77, 0.92). Inter-day test-retest reliability was found to be good for COPA (ICC3,1 = 0.87; 95% CI: 0.75, 0.93) and COPV (ICC3,1 = 0.89; 95% CI: 0.81, 0.94). SEM for COPA in intra-day testing was 18.90 mm2 (15.78%), and in inter-day testing it was 16.44 mm2 (13.61%). SEM for COPV in intra-day testing was 1.12 mm/s (7.6%), and in inter-day testing it was 1.01 mm/s (6.9%). MDC for COPA in intra-day testing was 52.41mm2 (42.75%), and in inter-day testing was 45.58 mm2 (35.75%). MDC for COPV in intra-day testing was 3.11 mm/s (21.2%), and in inter-day testing it was 2.80 mm/s (18.9%).

CONCLUSION

The WBB has good test-retest reliability for assessing SSB of children between 6-9 years. COPA measurements appear to be less sensitive to clinical changes in SSB when compared to COPV. Assessment of validity of the WBB in this age group is recommended before it can be considered as a potential balance assessment tool in children.

Test-Retest Reliability of Low-Cost Posturography for Assessing Postural Stability Control Performance during Standing

Postural stability control performance assessment is necessary in providing important information for individuals who are at risk of falling or who have balance impairment. Instrumented assessment is suggested as a valid and reliable test, but the cost and the difficulty of setup are significant limitations. The aim of this cross-sectional (test-retest reliability) study was to develop and determine the reliability of a low-cost posturography for assessing postural stability control performance during standing. The low-cost posturography was developed with four load cells and an acrylic platform. The center of pressure (COP) displacement and velocity were analyzed using written software. Test-retest reliability was performed with six different standing postural stability tests in twenty healthy volunteers on two different days. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), coefficient of variation (CV), and Bland-Altman plot and limits of agreements (LOA) were used for analyses. The low-cost posturography was accurate (ICC = 0.99, p < 0.001; SEM = 0.003 cm) when compared to the true with calculated X and Y coordinates, with a moderate to excellent test-retest reliability for both COP displacement (ICCs ranged 0.62-0.91, p < 0.05; SEMs ranged 17.92-25.77%) and COP velocity (ICCs ranged 0.62-0.91, p < 0.05; SEMs ranged 18.09-27.69%) in all standing postural stability tests. Bland-Altman plots and LOAs suggested good agreement of tested parameters from the developed low-cost posturography between different days. In conclusion, the developed low-cost posturography had adequate reliability for assessing COP displacement and velocity during standing postural control stability performance tests.