Systematic review of the psychometric properties of balance measures for cerebellar ataxia

Stanley J Winser; Catherine M Smith; Leigh A Hale; Leica S Claydon; Susan L Whitney; Poonam Mehta

doi:10.1177/0269215514536412

Systematic review of the psychometric properties of balance measures for cerebellar ataxia

Clin Rehabil. 2015 Jan;29(1):69-79. doi: 10.1177/0269215514536412. Epub 2014 Jun 10.

Authors

Stanley J Winser¹, Catherine M Smith², Leigh A Hale², Leica S Claydon³, Susan L Whitney⁴, Poonam Mehta²

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand stanley.winser@otago.ac.nz stanjwpt@gmail.com.
² Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
³ Department of Allied Health and Medicine, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, UK.
⁴ School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA Rehabilitation Research Chair at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

PMID: 24917589
DOI: 10.1177/0269215514536412

Abstract

Objective: To review systematically the psychometric properties of balance measures for use in people with cerebellar ataxia.

Data sources: Medline, AMED, CINAHL, Web of Science and EMBASE were searched between 1946 and April 2014.

Review methods: Two reviewers independently searched data sources. Cerebellar-specific and generic measures of balance were considered. Included studies tested psychometric properties of balance measures in people with cerebellar ataxia of any cause. Quality of reported studies was rated using the Consensus Based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist.

Results: Twenty-one articles across which 16 measures had been tested were included for review. Using the COSMIN, quality of methodology in studies investigating psychometric properties of generic balance measures (n=10) was rated predominantly as 'poor'. Furthermore, responsiveness has not been tested for any generic measures in this population. The quality of studies investigating psychometric properties of balance sub-components of the cerebellar-specific measures (n=6) ranged from 'poor' to 'excellent'; however, Minimally Clinically Important Difference has not been determined for these cerebellar-specific measures.

Conclusion: The Posture and Gait (PG) sub-component of the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) demonstrates the most robust psychometric properties with acceptable clinical utility.

Keywords: Ataxia; balance; outcome assessment (health care); reliability; validity.

Publication types

Review
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Cerebellar Ataxia / complications
Cerebellar Ataxia / physiopathology*
Cerebellar Ataxia / psychology
Databases, Bibliographic
Evaluation Studies as Topic
Gait Disorders, Neurologic / diagnosis*
Gait Disorders, Neurologic / etiology
Humans
Outcome Assessment, Health Care / methods
Postural Balance / physiology*
Psychometrics / methods
Psychometrics / standards*
Psychomotor Performance / physiology*
Reproducibility of Results
Sensation Disorders / diagnosis
Sensation Disorders / etiology
Sensation Disorders / physiopathology*
Severity of Illness Index