Comparisons of clinically based outcome measures and laboratory-based outcome measure for balance in patients following total hip and knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND

Information available in the literature on clinically based and laboratory-based outcome measures of balance is limited. How much information is provided by clinically based outcome measures compared to laboratory-based measure in patients with total hip (THA) and knee arthroplasty (TKA) is not known.

AIM

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between selected clinically based outcome measures and laboratory-based force platform measure in patients following THA and TKA.

METHODS

Patients who underwent THA (n = 26) and TKA (n = 28) were evaluated at about 5-7 weeks following surgery. Participants were assessed using four clinically based outcome measures - 1) the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), 2) the Timed Up and Go test (TUG), 3) the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC), and 4) the Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index-function subscale (WOMAC-function) - and one laboratory-based force plate measure (95% ellipse area).

RESULTS

Moderate correlations were observed between the BBS and the 95% ellipse area of force plate ( = 0.46-0.51) for the two-legged stance, the anterior lean stance, and the posterior lean stance. Fair correlations were observed between TUG and the 95% ellipse area of force plate ( = 0.31-0.37) for all the three test conditions. Low correlations were observed for the ABC and the WOMAC-function with the 95% ellipse area of force plate ( = 0.11-0.25) for all the three test conditions.

CONCLUSION

The BBS demonstrated the greatest correlations with the 95% ellipse area of the force plate measure and should be preferred by physical therapists over the TUG, the ABC, and the WOMAC-function to assess balance in patients with THA and TKA.