Measuring Balance and Mobility after Traumatic Brain Injury: Validation of the Community Balance and Mobility Scale (CB&M)

Purpose: To further investigate the construct validity of the Community Balance and Mobility Scale (CB&M), developed for ambulatory individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: A convenience sample of 35 patients with TBI (13 in-patients, 22 outpatients) was recruited. Analyses included a comparison of CB&M and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) admission and change scores and associations between the CB&M and measures of postural sway, gait, and dynamic stability; the Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ); and the Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale. Results: Mean admission scores on the BBS and the CB&M were 53.6/56 (SD = 4.3) and 57.8/96 (SD = 23.3) respectively. Significant correlations were demonstrated between the CB&M and spatiotemporal measures of gait, including walking velocity, step length, step width, and step time; measures of dynamic stability, including variability in step length and step time; and the ABC (p < 0.05). Significant correlations between the CB&M and CIQ were revealed with a larger data set (n = 47 outpatients) combined from previous phases of research. Conclusions: In patients with TBI, the CB&M is less susceptible to a ceiling effect than the BBS. The construct validity of the CB&M was supported, demonstrating associations with laboratory measures of dynamic stability, measures of community integration, and balance confidence.