adults with leg amputations using the Berg Balance Scale: a Rasch rating scale analysis.

3 Background. Self-report measures of balance and multidimensional mobility assessments are common for people with leg amputation, yet clinical assessment of balance ability remains less explored. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS), typically used with other balance-impaired populations, has been used with young high functioning people after traumatic amputation but rarely older people after vascular amputation. Objective. Examine the psychometric properties of the BBS using Rasch Rating Scale Analysis to determine BBS validity and utility in assessing balance ability in community-dwelling adults with leg amputation. Design. Rating Scale Analysis using BBS scores obtained from a single assessment. Methods. A volunteer sample of community-dwelling adults with leg amputation of any gender, amputation level and etiology was recruited from a hospital-based community support group and prosthetic clinic. Rating Scale Analysis of the BBS assessed: (1) unidimensionality, (2) internal validity, (3) goodness-of-fit, (4) structural integrity, and (5) person/item analyses