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Original Article

Balance assessment with decreased base of support for children with disabilities

Guilherme M. Cesar^1,2  , Madison Giebler¹, Thad W. Buster^1,3  , Judith M. Burnfield¹ 

¹Institute for Rehabilitation Science and Engineering, Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals, Lincoln, United States
²Department of Physical Therapy, Brooks College of Health, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, United States
³Department of Internal Medicine-Nephrology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, United States

Correspondence Guilherme M. Cesar ,Tel: 904.620-2664, Fax: 904.620-2251, Email: g.cesar@unf.edu

Received: May 2, 2024; Revised: July 23, 2024   Accepted: July 23, 2024.

Abstract

Background
Children’s ability to achieve an appropriate motor development is largely associated with their capacity to control balance. Furthermore, accomplishing balance tasks with a narrowed base of support is a necessary precursor to engaging in everyday functional activities and developing more complex balance abilities.
Purpose
To investigate the relationship between the tandem stance (TS) and the single-limb stance (SLS) items of the Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) assessment tool with the PBS total score in children with impaired balance.
Methods
Forty-two children (22 with neurological disabilities, 10.7±3.1 years; 20 typically developing [TD], 8.3±2.7 years) performed all 14 PBS items. Linear regressions separately determined the impact of TS and SLS on total PBS score in both groups. Bland-Altman plots expressed agreement between the balance measurements.
Results
For children with disabilities, only the SLS entered the model, explaining 64.5% of the variance in total PBS score. A high level of agreement was observed between the SLS and total PBS scores. For TD children, only the TS entered the model, explaining 45.2% of the variance in the total PBS score. A high level of agreement was observed between the TS and total PBS scores.
Conclusion
Our findings support the practical and efficient use of a single balance task to assess balance ability in children with disabilities.

Keywords :Balance, Single-limb stance, Tandem stance, Pediatric Balance Scale, Disabilities