Relationship of the brief-balance evaluation systems test with physical functioning and activities of daily living: A cross-sectional study among hospitalized acute stroke patients

BACKGROUND: The Brief-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Brief-BESTest) has the potential to be used effectively for interventions on specific balance components. However, it has not been utilized for acute stroke cases. OBJECTIVE: This study determined the characteristics of the distribution of the Brief-BESTest scores of patients who suffered acute stroke and examined its relationship with physical function and activities of daily living ability. METHODS: The Brief-BESTest, sub-items of Stroke Impairment Assessment Set (SIAS), and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) were conducted among 41 hospitalized acute stroke patients (71.3 +/- 9.5 years, 32 males). The skewness of the Brief-BESTest and Spearman's rank correlation (.) between Brief-BESTest, SIAS, and FIM were analyzed. RESULTS: The skewness of the total score of the Brief-BESTest was -0.038. There were no ceiling or floor effects. The total score of the Brief-BESTest had a weak positive correlation with the SIAS lower extremity motor function (. = 0.457) and muscle tone (. = 0.374), and the total score on FIM (. = 0.365). Each sub-item of the Brief-BESTest was associated with different physical functions. CONCLUSIONS: The Brief-BESTestwas unaffected by floor and ceiling functions among hospitalized acute stroke patients, and different physical functions were associated with each balance component.

Automated summary

This study found that the Brief-BESTest can be effectively used for acute stroke patients and is related to physical function and activities of daily living ability. The total score is weakly positively correlated with lower extremity motor function and muscle tone from the SIAS, as well as the total score on FIM. Each sub-item is associated with different physical functions.