Line Kjeldgaard Pedersen1, Polina Martinkevich2, Søren Ege3, Sofie Gjessing4, Ahmed Abdul-Hussein Abood5, Ole Rahbek6, Bjarne Møller-Madsen7. 1. Department of Children's Orthopedics, Aarhus University Hospital, Nørrebrogade 44, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. Electronic address: linekjpe@hotmail.com. 2. Department of Children's Orthopedics, Aarhus University Hospital, Nørrebrogade 44, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. Electronic address: polina.martinkevich@gmail.com. 3. Department of Children's Orthopedics, Aarhus University Hospital, Nørrebrogade 44, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. Electronic address: sorenege@gmail.com. 4. Department of Children's Orthopedics, Aarhus University Hospital, Nørrebrogade 44, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. Electronic address: sofiegjessing@gmail.com. 5. Department of Children's Orthopedics, Aarhus University Hospital, Nørrebrogade 44, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. Electronic address: aah.abood@clin.au.dk. 6. Department of Children's Orthopedics, Aarhus University Hospital, Nørrebrogade 44, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. Electronic address: ole0rahbek@gmail.com. 7. Department of Children's Orthopedics, Aarhus University Hospital, Nørrebrogade 44, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. Electronic address: bj.moma@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Seated postural stability can be measured using Tekscan, CONFORMat. Standing postural stability has gained great clinical and, research value by use of different force platforms with mostly good reliability. No reliability testing or biologic variation assessment has been documented regarding seated balance. This study determines the reliability of the parameters of seated balance in healthy children using the Tekscan CONFORMat equipment. METHODS: Sixty-six healthy children completed six measurements of seating position the first three with the child seated in a relaxed normal back position and the next three with the child seated in a complete up-right back position. The SAM software calculated five default parameters of balance (area, distance, variability, antero-posterior (AP) excursion and left-right excursion). RESULTS: Reliability parameters were assessed by one-way analysis of variance intra-class correlation (ICC) proving excellent reliability for relaxed and up-right back position with respect to distance (0.75/0.84) and good reliability with respect to variability (0.61/0.62) and area (0.61/0.60). AP excursion (0.41/0.59) and left-right excursion (0.54/0.24) showed fair to poor reliability. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, two of the five default parameters of balance used in the Tekscan CONFORMat system are direction-independent parameters and have been found reproducible for measuring seated balance in children. This study can be used as reference for comparisons of seated balance in children with affected seated postural control and for evaluating a clinical treatment effect.
BACKGROUND: Seated postural stability can be measured using Tekscan, CONFORMat. Standing postural stability has gained great clinical and, research value by use of different force platforms with mostly good reliability. No reliability testing or biologic variation assessment has been documented regarding seated balance. This study determines the reliability of the parameters of seated balance in healthy children using the Tekscan CONFORMat equipment. METHODS: Sixty-six healthy children completed six measurements of seating position the first three with the child seated in a relaxed normal back position and the next three with the child seated in a complete up-right back position. The SAM software calculated five default parameters of balance (area, distance, variability, antero-posterior (AP) excursion and left-right excursion). RESULTS: Reliability parameters were assessed by one-way analysis of variance intra-class correlation (ICC) proving excellent reliability for relaxed and up-right back position with respect to distance (0.75/0.84) and good reliability with respect to variability (0.61/0.62) and area (0.61/0.60). AP excursion (0.41/0.59) and left-right excursion (0.54/0.24) showed fair to poor reliability. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, two of the five default parameters of balance used in the Tekscan CONFORMat system are direction-independent parameters and have been found reproducible for measuring seated balance in children. This study can be used as reference for comparisons of seated balance in children with affected seated postural control and for evaluating a clinical treatment effect.