Mags,
In reply to your query about balance tests for the elderly for use in the
home; the Tinetti scale can be found in the following:
Tinetti ME: Performance-oriented assessment of mobility problems in
elderly patients. J Am Geriatr Soc 34:119-126, 1986
It is composed of two parts; a balance test containing 9 items and a gait
test containing a further 7 items. There is less validity information
published on this scale than the Berg.
In terms of the Berg, our experience is that this is a very clinically
useful
scale that is valid, reliable and sensititve to change. There are numerous
publications about it but I don't think the scale itself is included in the
publications. If you email me directly I will try and send you a copy.
The GARS is a gait assessment tool, not a balance tool. The test itself is
published in the following:
Wolfson L, Whipple R, Amerman P, Tobin JN: Gait assessment in the
elderly: a gait abnormality raating scale and its relation to falls J
Gerontol:
Med Sci 45(1):M12-19, 1990
I have come across the following reference to a modification of this
scale but haven't actually used it myself:
Van Searingen et al: Modified GARS (GARS-M). Phys Ther
76(9):994-1001, 1996
Another balance screening test called the FICSIT-4 is a very quick test
that is published in the following article:
Rossiter-Fornoff JE, Wolf SL, Wolfson LI, Buchner DM: A
cross-sectional validation study of the FICSIT common data base static
balance measures. J Gerontol:Med Sci 50A(6):M291-297, 1995
Because it is so brief I doubt it would be very sensitive to smaller
changes but I use it as a screen for balance problems.
Hope this info is helpful.
Deb Willems
Clinical Specialist in Neurology
London Health Sciences Centre
London, Ontario
Canada
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