Validity and reliability of the psychometric properties of the 12-item berg balance scale (BBS-12) in the italian population with hip or knee prosthesis. A cross sectional study

BACKGROUND: Among the various equilibrium quantification techniques, the evaluation scales still represent the most widespread and useful means to evaluate balance in the clinical field, thanks to the fact they are inexpensive and easy to use. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) is the most frequently cited scale in the literature to detect balance disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the 12-item Berg Balance Scale (BBS-12) in individuals who had undergone hip or knee replacement surgery. METHODS: Included participants were individually evaluated twice within 24 hours by the same rater. Two physiotherapists using various measurement instruments evaluated the participants using the BBS-12, the Tinetti balance assessment scale, the Short Falls Efficacy Scale–International (Short FES-I), and the 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12) RESULTS: There were 109 individuals included in this study. The BBS-12 showed an optimal internal consistency with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.923 and an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.99 for both the intrarater and interrater reliabilities. Comparisons of the BBS-12 with the gold standards showed that the BBS-12 was positively correlated with the Short FES-I, the Tinetti balance assessment scale, and the physical health portion of the SF-12. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated the validity and reliability of the BBS-12 in assessing balance in an Italian population for those with a hip or knee prosthesis. It is now possible to use the BBS-12 as a reliable assessment tool for this population.