The ability to maintain balance underlies the successful performance of most phvsical activities and daily life task. When balancs is insuffient, rehabilitational outcomes may be much impaied. Assessment of balancs is essential to the
rehabilitation
course.
The development of clinical technique for evaluating balance is dependent on a thorough understanding of sensory and motor process underlying normal balance control. Many measures used for describing balance were all with important limitations.
The primary objective of this study was to develop a quantitative measure of balance suitable for effective approach for clinical measurement. One approach to systematic evalution of balance is accomplished when sensory input were altered among
somatosensory, visual and vestibular for postural orientation and when divided into static and dynamic state. To provide this conditions, we designed a method 'balance index' which was tested under several different conditions that restrict
visual,
surface sensory input and produce inaccurate postural reaction by tilting, moving on wheel chair, stading on one leg. Timed performances for assessment criteria under each conditions were then observed in amount of sway or postural reactions for
a
period of 10 seconds. Quantifying include a numeric ranking of six scales for each unit test. Total score is maximally 40 ratings both in the sitting and standing balance index.
The analyzed results from examining 50 healthy adults and 20 stroke patients were that the normal range of scoring represented 38.3±0.8 in sitting, 34.5±2.7 in standing balance index, but these values were significantly dropped in stroke
patients
to
27.8±13.9 in sitting, 21.0±6.9 in standing position., And a decrease in index of normal adults was first found in the aged from 50~59 years in sitting and 40~49 years in standing, and no differece were apparent when comparing the two sexes.
Both
intra- and interrater test reliabilities were high, which indicates that index seems to be a fairly constant poarameters.
We suggest that this test is a useful screening tool not only offering quantitative, objective data about balance but also inexpensive, eassily administered for examining sitting and standing balance in clinics.
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