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 (r = 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 (r = 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 (r = 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.