Static Balance From the Short Physical Performance Battery Compared With BTrackS Among Older Adults

TL;DR

This study compares a low-cost balance test (SPPB) with a gold standard force plate in older adults, showing that SPPB scores correlate with balance performance.

Contribution

The study provides validation of the SPPB as a cost-effective alternative to force plates for assessing static balance in older adults.

Findings

Low SPPB balance scores correlated with greater COP path length and sway area compared to high scores.

SPPB balance scores are valid indicators of static balance performance in older adults.

The SPPB can be used as an alternative to force plates in resource-limited clinical settings.

Abstract

The static balance portion of the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) has rarely been compared directly with gold standard force plate balance assessments. This study aimed to compare static balance metrics from a cost-efficient force plate between community-dwelling older adults with low and high SPPB balance scores. The Balance Tracking System (BTrackS), a stationary and simple balance assessment instrument, was used for measuring static balance metrics during a non-visual static balance test. The static balance portion of the SPPB ranges from a total score of 0 to 4 and involves unsupported standing for 10 seconds in a side-by-side, a semi-tandem, and a tandem stance. We cross-sectionally compared center of pressure (COP) path length and sway area from 204 community-dwelling older adults aged 61 to 96 (176 women, mean age = 75 ± 7 years) who completed a BTrackS and SPPB assessment. A total of 146 older adults exhibited a high SPPB balance score (= 4), while 58 exhibited a low SPPB balance score (≤ 3). The Low SPPB Balance group had significantly greater COP path length (p = 0.006) and sway area (p < 0.001) compared to the High SPPB Balance group. These results suggest that the balance score from the SPPB is a valid indicator of static balance performance when compared to a gold standard force plate assessment and therefore, provide evidence for clinicians with limited technological resources to use the SPPB in a similar population and infer postural sway metrics based on high or low SPPB balance scores.