Functional balance tests for children with traumatic brain injury: within-session reliability.

PURPOSE: To assess the within-session reliability of the Modified Functional Reach Test (MFRT) and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test in children with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and children with typical development (TD). METHODS: A convenience sample of 24 children with TBI and 24 children with TD matched for age and sex were tested. Following 1 practice trial, 3 trials of the MFRT and TUG were completed and recorded for each child. RESULTS: Within-session reliability for the MFRT was excellent [children with TBI (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC (1,1) = 0.92-0.97), children with TD (ICC (1,1) = 0.94-0.95)]. Within-session reliability for the TUG test was good [children with TBI (ICC (1,1) = 0.86), children with TD (ICC (1,1) = 0.85)]. The average of the first and second trials showed the least measurement error for the TUG test. CONCLUSION: Within-session reliability values are excellent for the MFRT and good for the TUG test in children with TBI.

Relationship between balance abilities and gait characteristics in children with post-traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVES: To quantify the differences in gait variability and balance performance between typically developed (TD) children and children with post-traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to determine the association between gait variability and functional balance in both groups. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Physical therapy department of a paediatric and adolescent rehabilitation hospital. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 24 children post-TBI and 24 TD age and sex matched controls. INTERVENTION: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Step length, step time and base width variability measured with an electronic walkway; timed up and go (TUG) test and functional reach test (FRT) as a functional balance test. RESULTS: Base width and step time variability showed no significant difference between the groups. However, children post-TBI had significantly greater variability in step length in comparison to healthy controls. The functional balance abilities of children post-TBI were significantly limited compared to TD children. A significant linear inverse correlation was found between balance performance and step length variability only among children with a TBI. CONCLUSION: Ambulatory children post-severe TBI had decreased balance performance, decreased gait speed and increased step length variability as compared to age-matched healthy controls.