Balance Test Overview

Authors

Affiliations

Nate Yomogida, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

In studies on patients with Parkinson’s disease¹, multiple sclerosis² and spinal cord injuries³, the Mini-BESTest had a less significant ceiling effect and higher sensitivity in detecting balance improvements compared to other balance scales like the Berg Balance Scale. This means that it is more difficult to reach the max score (ceiling) on the Mini-BESTest compared to the BBS^2,3.

Thus, this test excels at finding balance impairments for higher functioning populations than the Berg Balance Scale.

References

1.

King LA, Priest KC, Salarian A, Pierce D, Horak FB. Comparing the Mini-BESTest with the Berg Balance Scale to Evaluate Balance Disorders in Parkinson’s Disease. Parkinson’s Disease. 2012;2012:1-7. doi:10.1155/2012/375419

2.

Ross E, Purtill H, Uszynski M, et al. Cohort Study Comparing the Berg Balance Scale and the Mini-BESTest in People Who Have Multiple Sclerosis and Are Ambulatory. Physical Therapy. 2016;96(9):1448-1455. doi:10.2522/ptj.20150416

3.

Jørgensen V, Opheim A, Halvarsson A, Franzén E, Roaldsen KS. Comparison of the Berg Balance Scale and the Mini-BESTest for Assessing Balance in Ambulatory People With Spinal Cord Injury: Validation Study. Physical Therapy. 2017;97(6):677-687. doi:10.1093/ptj/pzx030