Validity and reliability of the Nintendo Wii Balance Board to assess standing balance and sensory integration in highly functional older adults

preprint--Universidad de Costa Rica. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería, 2013. Parte del proyecto 731-B1-610, "Desarrollo de una herramienta para el análisis de la estabilidad postural en adultos mayores".Standing balance is an important motor task to perform daily life activities. Postural instability associated with age typically rises from a deterioration or failure of peripheral sensory systems. The modified Clinical Test of Sensory Integration for Balance (mCTSIB) is a timed test that isolates the contribution of particular sensory systems, and the Tandem test has been used to screen for balance. Timed tests present some limitations and quantification of the motions of the Center of Pressure (CoP) may help to improve the sensitivity of these tests. This study determines the validity and reliability of the Wii Balance Board (Wii BB) to quantify CoP motions during the mCTSIB and Tandem balance tests. 37 older adults completed 3 repetitions of 5 balance conditions, 4 of which represents the mCTSIB (Eyes Open (EO), Eyes Closed (EC), Eyes Open on a compliant surface (EOF), Eyes Closed on a compliant surface (ECF) and tandem stance(T)) on a force platform (FP) and a Wii BB simultaneously. 20 participants repeated the trials for reliability purposes. CoP displacement was the main outcome measure. Regression analysis indicated that the Wii BB has excellent concurrent validity for all testing conditions and Bland-Altman plots showed good agreement between devices, with small mean differences and no relationship between the difference and the mean. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) indicated modest to excellent test-retest reliability (ICC=0.64-0.85). Standard error of measurement (SEM) and minimal detectable change (MDC) were similar for both devices, except the “Closed Eyes” condition, with higher SEM for the Wii BB. There was a significant change in the mean difference for EC condition, however, the differences disappeared when averaging the three repetitions. In conclusion, the Wii BB has shown to be a valid and reliable method to quantify the CoP displacement during the performance of the mCTSIB and the tandem test in older adults.Universidad de Costa Rica, Vicerrectoría de Investigación, Instituto de Investigaciones en IngenieríaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ingeniería::Instituto Investigaciones en Ingeniería (INII