Meta- analysis demonstrated fallers perform significantly worse than non-fallers on all measures analysed except the Timed Up and Go Cognitive ( p < 0.05 ) , but discriminative ability of the measures is commonly not reported .
Of those reported , the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale had the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve value ( 0.92 ) , but without reporting corresponding measures of clinical utility .
Conclusion : Clinical measures of balance differ significantly between fallers and non-fallers but have poor predictive ability for falls risk in people with multiple sclerosis
Objective : To determine the ability of clinical measures of balance to distinguish fallers from non-fallers and to determine their predictive validity in identifying those at risk of falls .
Falls prevention and balance rehabilitation in multiple sclerosis: a bi-centre randomised controlled trial
Abstract Purpose : People with Multiple Sclerosis ( PwMS ) have a high incidence of accidental falls that have a potentially detrimental effect on their daily life participation . The effect of balance specific rehabilitation on clinical balance measures and frequency of falls in PwMS was studied . Method : A bi-centre r and omised rater-blinded controlled trial . Participants in both groups received 20 treatment sessions . Participants in the intervention group received treatment aim ed at improving balance and mobility .  Participants in the control group received treatments to reduce limitations at activity and body function level .  Primary measures were frequency of fallers ( > 1 fall in two months ) and responders ( > 3 points improvement ) at the Berg Balance Scale ( BBS ) . Data was analysed according to an intention to treat approach . Results : One hundred and nineteen participants were r and omised . Following treatment frequency of fallers was 22 % in the intervention group and 23 % in the control group , odds ratio ( OR ) and ( confidence limits ) : 1.05 ( 0.41 to 2.77 ) . Responders on the BBS were 28 % in the intervention group and 33 % in the control group , OR = 0.75 ( 0.30 to 1.91 ) . At follow up ORs for fallers and responders at BBS were 0.98 ( 0.48 to 2.01 ) and 0.79 ( 0.26 to 2.42 ) , respectively . Conclusions : Twenty sessions 2–3 times/week of balance specific rehabilitation did not reduce fall frequency nor improve balance suggesting the need for more frequent and challenging interventions . Implication s for Rehabilitation Programs for balance rehabilitation can improve balance but their effects in fall prevention are unclear . Twenty treatments sessions 2/3 times per week did not reduced frequency of falls in MS . The comparison with similar studies suggests that higher intensity of practice of highly challenging balance activities appears to be critical to maximizing effectiveness
Meta- analysis demonstrated fallers perform significantly worse than non-fallers on all measures analysed except the Timed Up and Go Cognitive ( p < 0.05 ) , but discriminative ability of the measures is commonly not reported .
Of those reported , the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale had the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve value ( 0.92 ) , but without reporting corresponding measures of clinical utility .
Conclusion : Clinical measures of balance differ significantly between fallers and non-fallers but have poor predictive ability for falls risk in people with multiple sclerosis
Objective : To determine the ability of clinical measures of balance to distinguish fallers from non-fallers and to determine their predictive validity in identifying those at risk of falls .