Length of Test: 6-30 minutes. Otherwise all information is updated.
Source: http://www.rehabmeasures.org/Lists/RehabMeasures/DispForm.aspx?ID=1258
Duarte, N. D., Grecco, L. A., Franco, R. C., Zanon, N., & Oliveira, C. S. (2014). Correlation between Pediatric Balance Scale and Functional Test in Children with Cerebral Palsy. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 26(6), 849-853. doi:10.1589/jpts.26.849
The purpose of this article was to investigate a correlation between the Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) and functional performance in children with cerebral palsy. The population included 30 children between the ages of 4-12 years. The 30 children (18 boys and 12 girls) were split up into 3 separate groups of 10 subjects each, depending on their level on the Gross Motor Function Classification System (level 1, 2, or 3). Each subject first performed the PBS and the results were recorded. On a non-consecutive day, the subject’s caregiver(s) would then complete the Pediatric Evaluation Disability Inventory (PEDI), which quantitatively measures functional performance in three different categories (self-care, mobility, and social function). The PEDI was administered to the child’s caregivers for evaluation. In group 1 (level 1 GMFCS), there were strong correlations found between PBS and the mobility and self-care dimensions of the PEDI, but not the social function dimmension. In group 2 (level 2 GMFCS), there was a moderate correlation between the PBS and the mobility dimension of PEDI, but no correlation with the self-care and social function dimensions. In group 3 (level 3 of the GMFCS), there was a moderate correlation between the PBS and the mobility dimension of PEDI, but no correlation with the self-care and social function dimensions.
A strength of the article was the separation of three groups for different classifications of cerebral palsy on the GMFCS. Because of the groupings, research showed stronger correlations between the level 1 GMFCS group and dimensions of the PEDI and weaker correlations with the level 2 & 3 groups. I also appreciated the sub-groupings of the PEDI into mobility, self-care, and social function groups. It was nice to see that there were more significant correlations with the mobility section of the PEDI, which could be the most important aspect for the PT to know.
A weakness of the article is implementing a quantitative measurement for functional performance. It’s challenging for a caregiver to predict the functional performance of a child and there can always be room for human error. Maybe there could’ve been a functional physical test that could’ve been assessed by the experimenters.
To conclude, the PBS could be used as a supplementary measurement for children classified as level 1 on the GMFCS, but it cannot be utilized as a predictor. There are weak correlations between PBS and functional performance in children classified as level 2 or 3 on the GMFCS.