Reliability and validity of a force-instrumented treadmill for evaluating balance: A preliminary study of feasibility in healthy young adults

Abstract

Background: With the development of computer technology, computerized dynamic posturography provides objective assessments of balance and posture control under static and dynamic conditions. Although a force-instrumented treadmill-based balance assessment is feasible for balance evaluations, currently no data exists. Objective: This study was undertaken to assess the reliability and validity of balance evaluations using a force-instrumented treadmill. Methods: Ten healthy adults participated in evaluations using both the treadmill and the EquiTest. Four balance evaluations were conducted: Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance, Unilateral Stance, Weight Bearing Squat, and Motor Control Test. Results: All balance evaluations using the force-instrumented treadmill method shared good reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient ≥0.6). The Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance, Unilateral Stance, and Weight Bearing Squat evaluations had a correlation of r < 0.5 with EquiTest, whereas the Motor Control Test balance evaluation had moderate correlations ( r > 0.5) with the EquiTest. Conclusion: The results demonstrated that all balance evaluations using the force-instrumented treadmill were reliable, and that the Motor Control Test evaluation was moderately correlated with the EquiTest. Therefore, the use of a force-instrumented treadmill in balance evaluations might provide a certain level of value to clinical practice.

Devices and tasks involved in the objective assessment of standing dynamic balancing – A systematic literature review

“…An anterior [ 58 ] or posterior [ 59 ] translation perturbation is delivered to elicit a compensatory stepping response ( Fig 8 ). Balance recovery tasks without stepping can also be carried out [ 60 ].…”

“…A treadmill [ 58 – 60 ] was utilized to deliver a sudden anterior-posterior perturbation only in recent years. The method was able to significantly discriminate between healthy groups of young, middle-aged and elderly adults [ 58 ].…”

“…Furthermore, the treadmill method showed significant differences between elderly fallers and non-fallers, even when clinical tests failed to discriminate [ 59 ]. One study investigated the reliability of this method using computerized dynamic posturography and found good reliability (Intraclass Correlation Coefficients >0.6) and moderate correlation (r>0.5) of the results [ 60 ]. These results indicate that the use of a treadmill in clinical practice merits further development.…”

A Perturbed Postural Balance Test Using an Instrumented Treadmill – Precision and Accuracy of Belt Movement and Test-Retest Reliability of Balance Measures

“…These devices typically consist of a force plate on top of a movable platform which allows perturbation applied through the base of support. These computerized posturography devices measure the adaptive mechanisms of the whole postural control system including sensory, motor, and central mechanisms (Yuntao et al, 2017). The benefit of these devices is that they can assess multiple aspects of balance, namely, static steady-state, proactive, and reactive balance.…”

“…There can be also differences in the accuracy between devices from different manufacturers to deliver perturbations, which Crenshaw et al (2019) speculated to be due to unique control strategies and computations. Nevertheless, encouraging results were provided by a preliminary feasibility study conducted by Yuntao et al (2017), who evaluated the use of an instrumented treadmill (FTM-1200WA; Tec Gihan, Kyoto, Japan) as a standing postural balance measurement device. The study indicated that the reliability of the treadmill-based measurement is comparable with that of computerized dynamic posturography measurement using a purpose-built device (MPS-3102; Balance Master, NeuroCom, Clackamas, USA; ICC r = 0.67-0.7).…”