Comparison of Reliability, Validity, and Responsiveness of the Mini- BESTest and Berg Balance Scale in Patients With Balance Disorders

Background. Recently, a new tool for assessing dynamic balance impairments has been presented: the 14-item Mini-BESTest. Objective. The aim of this study was to compare the psychometric performance of Mini-BESTest and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Design. A prospective, single-group, observational design was used in the study. Methods. Ninety-three participants (mean age66.2 years, SD13.2; 53 women, 40 men) with balance deficits were recruited. Interrater (3 raters) and test-retest (1–3 days) reliability were calculated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Responsiveness and minimal important change were assessed (after 10 sessions of physical therapy) using both distribution-based and anchor-based methods (external criterion: the 15-point Global Rating of Change [GRC] scale). Results. At baseline, neither floor effects nor ceiling effects were found in either the Mini-BESTest or the BBS. After treatment, the maximum score was found in 12 participants (12.9%) with BBS and in 2 participants (2.1%) with Mini-BESTest. Test-retest reliability for total scores was significantly higher for the Mini-BESTes