The Significance of the Berg Balance Scale as a Parameter of Walking Outcome in Post-acute Spinal Cord Injured Patients

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.

The Relationship between Korean Version of Berg Balance Scale with Ambulation Activities in Subjects with Stroke in Brain Stem and Cerebellum

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlation between Korean version of Berg balance scale (K-BBS) with activities related to ambulation in subjects with stroke in brain stem and cerebellum by obtaining the cutoff value for each step of K-BBS. METHOD: We divided the step of activities related to ambulation into 4 stages; independent sitting, independent sit to stand, independent ambulation with Q (quadripod) cane and independent ambulation without any assistance. Accordingly, we measured the K-BBS and checked the activity step in 31 subjects with stroke every other week. Data were analyzed by ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve technique to obtain each cutoff value of the K-BBS representing individual step of activities. RESULTS: The ROC analysis showed that each step of activity matched the following cutoff values: independent sitting, 5; independent sit to stand, 16; independent gait with Q cane, 25; and independent gait without any assistance, 35. CONCLUSION: K-BBS is a useful instrument in representing each step of activities related to ambulation and the cutoff values. Also, it is helpful for judging the assistance level for ambulation in subjects with stroke in brain stem and cerebellum.

The Korean Version of Berg Balance Scale as an Index of Activity Related to Ambulation in Subjects with Stroke

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical usefulness of the Korean version of Berg balance scale (K-BBS) by obtaining the cutoff value for the activities related to ambulation in subjects with stroke. METHOD: We measured the K-BBS and checked the activities related to ambulation in 52 subjects with stroke every other week. The activities related to ambulation were composed of 4 stages, including independent sitting, independent sit to stand, independent gait with Q (quad) cane and independent gait without any assistance. Data were analyzed by ROC (Receiver operating characteristic) curve technique to obtain each cutoff value of the K-BBS representing for the individual activities. RESULTS: The ROC analysis showed that each activity matched the following cutoff values: independent sitting, 5; independent sit to stand, 18; independent gait with Q cane, 25; and independent gait without any assistance, 34. CONCLUSION: The K-BBS would be a useful instrument to tell the degrees of the activities related to ambulation and the cutoff values could be helpful for judging the assistance level for ambulation in patients with stroke.