Dynamic balance assessment using an unstable board in community-dwelling elderly people

[Purpose] A new method for measuring dynamic balance was developed. The aim of this study was to describe the use of a novel “unstable board” to evaluate the balance ability of community-dwelling elderly individuals. [Participants and Methods] The following balance outcomes were evaluated in 59 community-dwelling elderly people: anteroposterior and mediolateral stability indexes on the unstable board, Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test score, the Functional Reach Test score, Timed Up-and-Go time, and the Figure-8 Walk Test time. [Results] With respect to the relationship between the stability indexes and functional balance scales, the anteroposterior stability index significantly correlated with the anticipatory postural adjustment component (r=−0.422), stability in the gait component (r=−0.274), and total score of the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (r=−0.316); timed up-and-go time (r=0.320); and figure-8 walk test time (r=0.340). No correlation was found between the mediolateral stability index and the functional balance scale scores. [Conclusion] The anteroposterior stability index correlated with the declines in postural adjustments and performance in the dynamic balance assessments. Therefore, the anteroposterior stability index, evaluated on an unstable board, could provide an efficient tool for predicting changes in dynamic balance capacity, which could not be identified using the most commonly used balance assessment tools.