Conference paper
METROLOGICAL PERFORMANCE OF INSTRUMENTS USED IN CLINICAL EVALUATION OF BALANCE
Frederick R. Carrick
orcid.org/0000-0002-2818-6551
; Department of Neurology, Carrick Institute for Graduate Studies, Cape Canaveral, FL, USA ;Centre for Mental Health Research in association with University of Cambridge (CMHR-CU), Cambridge, UK ;Department of Neurology, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL USA ;Department of Medical Education, MGH Institute for Health Professions, Boston, MA, USA
Ahmed Hankir
; Centre for Mental Health Research in association with University of Cambridge (CMHR-CU), Cambridge, UK: ;Department of Psychiatry, Carrick Institute for Graduate Studies, Cape Canaveral, FL, USA ;South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
Rashid Zaman
; Centre for Mental Health Research in association with University of Cambridge (CMHR-CU), Cambridge, UK; ;Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, UK ;Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
Cameron H. G. Wright
; Department of Neurology, Carrick Institute for Graduate Studies, Cape Canaveral, FL, USA; ;Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
Abstract
Clinical assessment of a patient, monitoring the progress of a condition, and/or titration of a therapy is dependent on the metrological
characteristics of diagnostic equipment. While metrological performance of instruments is commonly assessed in research, it
is not so often done in clinical practice. Physical rehabilitation applications may benefit individuals with mental health concerns and
are associated with an accurate analysis of balance and gait. There is a paucity of published data regarding the metrological
characteristics of commonly used clinical instruments used in posturographic measurements. We desired to assess the accuracy,
trueness, precision and resolution of four posturography systems that we use clinically in practice: a Bertec BP-5050, a Vestibular
Technologies CAPS® Professional and a Vestibular Technologies CAPS® Lite three-component balance platforms, and a
NeuroCom® Balance Manager SMART EquiTest®. Metrological performance by posturography instruments was recommended in
2013 by the International Standardization Committee for Clinical Stabilometry of the International Society for Posture and Gait
Research (ISPGR). Clinical and research findings may be erroneous, or at the least misleading, if the instruments used to make
clinical decisions are associated with significant error. We suggest that there is a strong need for posturographic instrumentation
with appropriate metrological characteristics used in clinical applications. The ISPRG recommendations appear to be reasonable
and appropriate, and our results show they are obtainable. Physical measurements and functional testing used to correlate and
design mental health and physical based rehabilitation strategies are often dependent upon the accuracy and metrological integrity
of diagnostic instruments used in posturography.
Keywords
postural balance; instrumentation; data accuracy; standardization; metrological characteristics
Hrčak ID:
263327
URI
Publication date:
4.9.2019.
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