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

ABSTRACT

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.