A video-based balance measure for people with intellectual disability

Abstract

Background Many standardised balance measures are unsuitable for people who are unable to comprehend test requirements. We report on the development, administration, interrater reliability, and concurrent validity of a videobased balance measure for people with intellectual disability called the Balance Scale for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities. Method Video recordings of 25 people performing 7 common motor tasks, identified from stakeholder consultation, were made, and rated using standardised scoring criteria. Concurrent validity, assessed against the Tinetti Gait and Balance Instrument and the modified Gait Abnormality Rating Scale (GARS-M), and interrater reliability of the scale was evaluated with 19 physiotherapists. Results Scores suggested no ceiling or floor effects. Excellent interrater reliability (ICC = .9) was demonstrated. Concurrent validity was good against the Tinetti (ρ = .98) and the GARS-M (ρ = −.87). Issues around lighting for video-recording and lack of steps or stairs in the home setting were encountered. Conclusion The new measure may be useful in trials assessing the effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving the balance capabilities of people with intellectual disability.

Gait and Balance

“…The person performs the task just once, while being videotaped for later evaluation by the assessor. Each task is graded according to detailed guidelines given to the assessor, and the sum of each score gives a composite BSID score (Hale and Donovan 2014). The test has excellent reliability and is correlates well with the Tinetti score ) and the gait abnormality rating scale (Wolfson et al 1990).…”

“…can be useful for documentation and can be watched, replayed in slow-motion and scored later (Hale et al 2007). Recently, the same research group presented the balance scale for persons with intellectual disabilities (BSID), which is a video-based evaluation tool (Hale and Donovan 2014). BSID includes seven common and already familiar motor tasks, related to daily activities that challenge balance.…”

“…The tasks chosen to be tested were (1) sit-to-stand-to-sit, (2) walking on a flat surface, (3) walking over an unstable surface, (4) picking up an object off the floor and reaching to place it on a table, (5) turning 180 degrees, (6) being distracted while walking, and (7) stair climbing (Hale and Donovan 2014). This collection of seven tasks fulfilled certain criteria: (1) they were similar to daily activities, (2) challenged balance capabilities at different levels, (3) required minimal explanation and (4) required minimal equipment (Hale and Donovan 2014). Similar evaluation tools for people with ID could be created in the future using such criteria.…”