Reproducibility and Convergent Validity of the Blazepod Stepping Reaction Test for Assessment of Dynamic Balance in Older People

Alon Kalron, Daphna Rasooly
Purpose:

To examine the convergent validity and intra-rater test-retest reproducibility of the BSRT in older adults and examine the ability of the BSRT to differentiate between fallers/non-fallers. 

Methods:

The study was observational, comprising a test-retest design. Fifty older people (33 women, 17 men), mean age 72.2 (SD=4.2) participated in the investigation. Main outcome measures included the Blazepod Stepping Reaction Test (BSRT), Mini-BESTest including subcategories (Anticipatory, Reactive Postural control, Sensory orientation, Dynamic gait), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), Choice Stepping Reaction Time test (CSRT), Fear of Falling (FoF), and Fall Status Questionnaire. 

Results:

The mean BSRT test score of the study sample was 15.9 (SD=3.2). The intraclass correlation coefficient value for the intra-rater test-retest reproducibility of the BSRT test was 0.793 (95%CI, 0.493, 0.912). The SEM and MDC values were 1.446 and 2.36, respectively. A moderate-strong correlation score was found between the BSRT and the TUG (Rho=-0.670). Moderate correlation scores were found between the BSRT and the Min-BESTest total score, anticipatory postural adjustment, and dynamic gait (Rho~0.55). Moderate correlations were found between the BSRT, fear of falling (Rho=0.40), the CSRT (Rho=-0.35), and balance sensory orientation (Rho=0.37). A significant difference was found in the BSRT test score between fallers (mean=13.7 (SD=4.1)) and non-fallers (mean=16.3 (SD=2.8)); p=0.023.

Conclusion(s):

The current study supports the use of the BSRT for clinical practice in older adults. Administration of the BSRT is relatively simple. Although requiring off-the-shelf equipment, it is easily operated and can be completed in approximately 5 minutes. Nonetheless, future research is still warranted to determine additional psychometric properties of the BSRT, such as inter-rater reliability. Moreover, it is essential to investigate its value in detecting balance impairment and risk of falls in various pathological populations (e.g., stroke survivors, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, etc.). 

Implications:

The BSRT is clear to be used in clinical practice for the assessment of dynamic balance and stepping reaction in older adults 

Funding acknowledgements:
The study was unfunded
Keywords:
Balance
Stepping reaction
Older adults
Primary topic:
Older people
Second topic:
Neurology
Third topic:
Other
Did this work require ethics approval?:
Yes
Name the institution and ethics committee that approved your work:
Tel-Aviv University
Provide the ethics approval number:
0005462-1
Has any of this material been/due to be published or presented at another national or international conference prior to the World Physiotherapy Congress 2025?:
No

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