Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 87, Issue 11 , Pages 1478-1485, November 2006

Development of a Multidimensional Balance Scale for Use With Functionally Independent Older Adults

Presented in part to the Joint Conference of the National Council on Aging and American Society on Aging, March 2003, Chicago, IL.

  • Debra J. Rose, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Center for Successful Aging, California State University, Fullerton, CA
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests to Debra J. Rose, PhD, Center for Successful Aging, KHS 245, California State University, 800 N State College Blvd, Fullerton, CA 92834
    • ,
  • Nicole Lucchese, MS

      Affiliations

    • Center for Successful Aging, California State University, Fullerton, CA
    • ,
  • Lenny D. Wiersma, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Kinesiology, California State University, Fullerton, CA.

Abstract 

Rose DJ, Lucchese N, Wiersma LD. Development of a multidimensional balance scale for use with functionally independent older adults.

Objective

To develop and evaluate the validity and reliability of a multidimensional balance scale—the Fullerton Advanced Balance (FAB) scale—suitable for use with functionally independent older adults.

Design

Psychometric evaluation of the scale’s content and convergent validity, test-retest and intra- and interrater reliability, and internal rater consistency.

Setting

Urban community.

Participants

Forty-six community-residing older adults (mean ± standard deviation, 75±6.2y), with (n=31) and without identified balance problems (n=15), participated in the study. Four physical therapists with expertise in the assessment and treatment of balance disorders in older adults also participated in the content validity and/or reliability phases of the study.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Spearman rank correlation coefficients for convergent validity, test-retest, intra- and interrater reliability, and homogeneity coefficient values for rater consistency.

Results

Test-retest reliability for the total balance scale score was high (ρ=.96). Interrater reliability for total score ranged from .94 to .97 whereas intrarater reliability coefficients ranged from .97 to 1.00. Homogeneity (H) coefficients were greater than .90 for 6 of the 10 individual test items and all 10 test items had H coefficients of greater than .75 for both rating sessions.

Conclusions

Preliminary results suggest that the FAB scale is a valid and reliable assessment tool that is suitable for use with functionally independent older adults residing in the community.

Key Words: Balance, Elderly, Outcome assessment (health care), Posture, Rehabilitation

 

 No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the authors or upon any organization with which the authors are associated.

PII: S0003-9993(06)00868-9

doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2006.07.263

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 87, Issue 11 , Pages 1478-1485, November 2006

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