Advance in Voluntary Postural Control Assessment (review) / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

Postural control plays a crucial role in maintaining posture stability and improving performance efficiency. It involves involuntary and voluntary components. There is not a unified model for assessment of voluntary postural control. Based on the research framework of voluntary postural control, this paper reviewed three common voluntary postural control assessment tools (Timed "Up and Go" Test, Balance Evaluation System Test and Unified Balance Scale). The Timed “Up and Go” Test contains various capabilities which are recommended by the framework. There are few restrictions on the facilities and test circumstance, and it can be used in different populations. Balance Evaluation System Test consists of three different versions; each of them has high structure validity and shows different characteristics in the evaluation of voluntary postural control. The items of Unified Balance Scale also cover most of capabilities provided by the framework, and there are quality control methods in the scale. These tools would be selected according to purpose, occasion and time of study, or used in combination.