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Comparison of the SWAY Balance Mobile Application to the Abbreviated Balance Error Scoring System

  • Ryan Z. Amick
  • , Samantha D. Jansen
  • , Alex Chaparro
  • , Nils A. Hakansson
  • , Jeremy A. Patterson
  • , Michael J. Jorgensen
  • Wichita State University

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The SWAY Balance Mobile Application (SWAY Medical, LLC, Tulsa, OK) is a new method for quantifiably assessing balance in both clinical and on-field environments. The purpose of this study was to compare the accelerometer-based SWAY balance assessment to the commonly used and observation-based Abbreviated Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) balance assessment. Forty-four participants (22 male; mean age: 19.59 ± 1.23 years) completed the SWAY Balance Mobile Application protocol while the Abbreviated BESS was simultaneously scored. Bivariate linear regression was performed and correlation co-efficient calculated to determine the degree of correlation between the SWAY and Abbreviated BESS scores. The mean Abbreviated BESS score was 5.93 ± 4.45 and the mean SWAY score was 81.79 ± 14.06. A significant negative correlation was found between the two balance measures (r = −0.601, P < .0001). The SWAY balance assessment may provide for a means to quantifiably assess balance in an objective manner, thereby eliminating subjective bias in balance assessments.
Original languageAmerican English
JournalAthletic Training and Sports Health Care
Volume7
DOIs
StatePublished - May 13 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • SWAY Balance Mobile Application
  • human balance assessment
  • Abbreviated Balance Error Scoring System

Disciplines

  • Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment

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