The Significance of the Berg Balance Scale as a Parameter of Walking Outcome in Post-acute Spinal Cord Injured Patients.
- Author:
Myeong Ok KIM
1
;
Han Young JUNG
;
Jae Jun LEE
;
Jun Ho LEE
;
Hyung Jun JEONG
;
Kyung Lim JOA
Author Information
1. Department of Physical & Rehabilitation Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine, Korea. marine1003@daum.net
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Walking index for spinal cord injury;
Korean version of Berg balance scale;
Spinal cord independence measure;
Somatosensory evoked potential
- MeSH:
Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory;
Humans;
Outcome Assessment (Health Care);
Spinal Cord;
Spinal Cord Injuries;
Tibial Nerve;
Walking;
Weights and Measures
- From:Journal of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine
2010;34(5):513-517
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlation between the K-BBS (Korean version of Berg balance scale), a tool for assessing balance, with the WISCI (walking index for spinal cord injury), and SCIM (spinal cord independence measure) in patients with post-acute spinal cord injuries. In addition, the difference in the K-BBS, WISCI, SCIM according to the degree of severity of the SEP (somatosensory evoked potential) findings of the posterior tibial nerve was analyzed in these patients. METHOD: Thirty patients with post-acute spinal cord injuries were assessed with the K-BBS, WISCI, and SCIM every other week until discharge. A posterior tibial SEP study was recorded at the beginning of rehabilitation. Delayed latency or small amplitude in the SEP on one or both sides was regarded as the mild group, and non-evoked SEP on both sides was regarded as the severe group. Improvement in walking was based on the change in the scores from admission to discharge. The statistical analysis included the non-parametric Spearman rank correlation and t-test; p<0.05 RESULTS: The assessment scales showed a high correlation between the K-BBS, WISCI, and SCIM (p<0.05). The relationship between the K-BBS and WISCI was specifically strong (r=0.936). Moreover, there was a significant difference in the scores of the K-BBS, WISCI, and SCIM according to the severity of the SEP (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The findings of a statistical correlation of the K-BBS and the posterior tibial SEP with the WISCI and SCIM provides strong support for their use as outcome measures.
