Development of Valid and Reliable Measures of Postural Stability

J Spinal Cord Med, 2007 · DOI: · Published: January 1, 2007

Spinal Cord Injury Assistive Technology Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study aimed to validate three clinical measures of reach (functional reach, reach area, and bilateral reach) against the performance of activities of daily living (ADL) in individuals with spinal cord injury. Two groups of subjects with spinal cord injuries were tested. The researchers recorded three measures of reach (FR, RA, and BR) both with and without allowing compensatory strategies, and the subjects also attempted a series of ADL tasks. The study found correlations between the reach measures and the ability to perform ADL tasks, suggesting that these measures could be useful in clinical settings to determine appropriate wheelchair configurations and postural supports.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Two groups of 20 subjects differing by time since spinal cord injury

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Injury level was a significant predictor of success in performing ADL tasks.
2
Compensated functional reach (FR) and reach area (RA) were more related to ADL performance than uncompensated measures.
3
Bilateral reach (BR) had the strongest relationship with ADL scores.

Research Summary

This study validated three clinical measures of reach—functional reach (FR), reach area (RA), and bilateral reach (BR)—against the performance of ADL tasks in individuals with spinal cord injury. The study found that injury level significantly predicted ADL performance and that bilateral reach (BR) had the strongest relationship with ADL scores, suggesting it should be incorporated into clinical practice. The study also noted that compensated reach measures (FR and RA) were more related to ADL performance than uncompensated measures, indicating their clinical relevance, while uncompensated measures are better suited for research on postural control.

Practical Implications

Clinical Practice

Clinicians should incorporate bilateral reach (BR) tasks when working with clients on seated stability and functional movement.

Research

Researchers studying postural control and stability during functional tasks should consider using uncompensated reach measures.

Wheelchair Evaluation

Reach measures can be used during wheelchair and seating evaluations to determine the best wheelchair setup for individual users.

Study Limitations

1
Measurements were taken using the subject’s own wheelchair and seating system, adding variation across subjects.
2
Seated posture was only characterized by a measure of pelvic tilt, potentially missing other postural relationships.
3
The types of compensation used during reach were self-selected, which could introduce variability.

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