ABSTRACT
We estimated the severity of cerebellar ataxia by analyzing gait rhythm. We measured the step times in patients with pure cerebellar ataxia and healthy controls and then analyzed the distribution of the ratios of adjacent times. Gait rhythm displayed the best adaptation when expressed as the sum of the power law and lognormal distributions in both groups, and the groups could be distinguished by the exponent of the power law distribution, reflecting the fractal property of gait rhythm. Gait rhythm might reflect different features of impairment in patients with cerebellar ataxia, making it a useful continuous scale for cerebellar ataxia.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The reliability of the evaluation of the Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest) and its two abbreviated versions are confirmed for balance characteristics and reliability. However, they are not utilized in cases of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA). OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine the test-retest reliability and minimal detectable change (MDC) of the BESTest and its abbreviated versions in persons with mild to moderate spinocerebellar ataxia. METHODS: The BESTest was performed in 20 persons with SCA at baseline and one month later. The scores of the abbreviated version of the BESTest were determined from the BESTest scores. The interclass correlation coefficient (1,1) was used as a measure of relative reliability. Furthermore, we calculated the MDC in the BESTest and its abbreviated versions. RESULTS: The intraclass correlation coefficients (1,1) and MDC at 95% confidence intervals were 0.92, 8.7(8.1%), 0.91, 4.1(14.5%), and 0.81, 5.2(21.6%) for the Balance, Mini-Balance, and Brief-Balance Evaluation Systems Tests, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The BESTest and its abbreviated versions had high test-retest reliability. The MDC values of the BESTest could enable clinicians and researchers to interpret changes in the balance of patients with SCA more precisely.