Evaluating validity of the Kids-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Kids-BESTest) Clinical Test of Sensory Integration of Balance (CTSIB) criteria to categorise stance postural control of ambulant children with CP

Purpose Evaluate the validity of the Clinical Test of Sensory Integration of Balance (CTSIB) scored using Kids-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Kids-BESTest) criteria compared to laboratory measures of postural control. Method Participants were 58 children, 7-18 years, 17 with ambulant cerebral palsy (CP) (GMFCS I-II), and 41 typically developing (TD). Postural control in standing was assessed using CTSIB items firm and foam surfaces, eyes open (EO) then closed (EC). Face validity was evaluated comparing clinical Kids-BESTest scores between groups. Correlating force plate centre-of-pressure (CoP) data and clinical scores allowed evaluation of concurrent and content validity. Results Face validity: TD children scored higher for all CTSIB conditions when compared to children with CP. Concurrent validity: the agreement between clinical and CoP derived scores was poor to excellent (Firm-EO = 76%, Firm-EC = 76%, Foam-EO = 59%, Foam-EC = 94%). Clinical scores of "2-unstable" and "3-stable" were not distinguished reliably by force plate measures. Content validity: significant correlations were found between clinical scores and CoP data for the two intermediate conditions (Firm-EC: r(s) -0.40 to -0.72; Foam-EO: r(s) -0.12 to -0.50), but not the easier (Firm-EO: r(s) -0.41 to -0.36) or harder conditions (Foam-EC: r(s) -0.25 to -0.27). Conclusion Face validity of Kids-BESTest CTSIB criteria was supported. Content and concurrent validity were partially supported. Improved Kids-BESTest scoring terms were recommended to describe postural characteristics of "2-unstable."