Comparative Utility of Clinical Balance Measures in Traumatic Brain Injury

The University of Texas System (UT)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Traumatic Brain Injury; Accidental Falls; Acquired Brain Injury

Treatments: Other: Functional Gait Assessment; Other: mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test; Other: Berg Balance Scale

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02696538

HSC-MH-15-0656

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this research study is to investigate how useful three balance tests are in predicting fall risk in the individual with traumatic brain injury (TBI). These tests are the Functional Gait Assessment (FGA), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and the mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (mini-BESTest).

Full description

The purpose of the proposed study is to investigate the reliability and predictive validity of three balance measures, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) and the mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (mini-BESTest), among individuals with history of traumatic brain injury. Participants will complete a health history questionnaire and six-month fall history. When available, fall history will be corroborated with a family member that resides with the participant. Participants will complete the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Each participant will then participate in a 45-minute evaluation using the three performance-based outcome measures, with order randomized, with two blinded assessors. Six and 12 month follow-up of number of falls will occur via telephone. Statistical analysis with investigate the inter-rater reliability, predictive validity of fall risk and to determine cut off scores for fallers vs. non fallers in the population.

Enrollment: 20 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• community dwelling
• medically stable
• able to stand at least one minute unsupported (with/without assistive device)
• able to ambulate 20 feet (with/without assistance or assistive device)
• able to follow one step instructions or visual demonstrations.

Exclusion criteria

• presence of partial or non-weight bearing on a lower extremity

Trial design

Primary purpose: Diagnostic

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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20 participants in 1 patient group

Experimental

Experimental group

Description:

All participants included in this group and will complete all three outcomes assessment

Treatment:

Other: Berg Balance Scale

Other: mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test

Other: Functional Gait Assessment