Force plates are frequently used systems for evaluation of postural control. EMG measurements could be another option. However, measurement devices are quite expensive. Depending on your research question, the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) or the Y-balance test are inexpensive or even cost-free alternatives - just to name a few.

Thanks for the answer.

I was planning to use the force plate to assess static balance and the Y test to asses dyamic balance. But woundn't the functional reach test be better than the Y test to asses balance in low back pain? the population is going to be college students

It depends. However, the functional reach test is a simple test that can be performed quite quickly. Hence it might be helpful to use both tests?

In your opinion, it depends on what? I read that the Y balance test was more adequate for athlets and lower limb injury. It assesses strength, range of motion and motor skills. The Functional Reach test is for elderly and fragile clinical populations. it assess flexibility and risk of falling.

In my opinian, the Functional Reach test elicits more postural mechanisms than the Y balance test. Do you agree?

Dear colleague,

Please have a look to interesting work of some colleagues of our research unit:

Decreased variability in postural control strategies in young people with non-specific low back pain is associated with altered proprioceptive reweighting.

Claeys K, Brumagne S, Dankaerts W, Kiers H, Janssens L.

Eur J Appl Physiol. 2011 Jan;111(1):115-23. doi: 10.1007/s00421-010-1637-x. Epub 2010 Sep 8.

PMID: 20824281 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE

The effect of acute back muscle fatigue on postural control strategy in people with and without recurrent low back pain.

Johanson E, Brumagne S, Janssens L, Pijnenburg M, Claeys K, Pääsuke M.

Eur Spine J. 2011 Dec;20(12):2152-9. doi: 10.1007/s00586-011-1825-3. Epub 2011 May 1.

PMID: 21533851 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Regards

Bart Malfait

Yes Susana, basically I would agree on that.

By the way, the Y-balance test can be used for an assessment of the upper extremity as well.

I think you should keep in mind that "The Functional Reach tejavascript:st is for elderly and fragile clinical populations", but you are are testing college students.

@Bart: Thanks for sharing!!!

Dear Bart, Thanks for the sharing.

Very interesting papers. Thanks!

Dear Casrten Muller,

Sorry about my unknowledge, but how does the Y test assess upper extremity?

best regards, and thanks

Dear Susana,

these links might be helpful:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3325634/

Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2012 Apr;7(2):139-47. Exploration of the y-balance test for assessment of upper quarter closed kinetic chain performance.

Westrick RB, Miller JM, Carow SD, Gerber JP.

PMID: 22530188

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22228174

J Strength Cond Res. 2012 Nov;26(11):3043-8. Upper Quarter Y Balance Test: reliability and performance comparison between genders in active adults.

Gorman PP1, Butler RJ, Plisky PJ, Kiesel KB.

PMID: 22228174

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWNZOyk03gI

Perhaps this paper utilizing the lower exrtremity y-balance test might be of interest with regard to your research question as well:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24567854

Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2014 Feb;9(1):40-6.

The influence of upper body fatigue on dynamic standing balance.

Wassinger CA, McKinney H, Roane S, Davenport MJ, Owens B, Breese U, Sokell GA.

PMID: 24567854

In my opinion, force plates are the most valuable tools of the ones mentioned above. If you are looking for an additional motoric test, I believe that the y-balance test or SEBT would be the appropriate assessment with regard to your participants/patients, as these tests assess core stability, range of motion AND balance skills - skills that cannot be measured by means of force plates, but that might be addressable with a therapeutic intervention. Certainly, there are other (functional) tests as well, I am not familiar with...

You might want to keep us informed about the progress of your study??

Kind regards and good luck!

OptoGait . Questo sistema optocinetico potrebbe esserti di aiuto? 

http://www.optogait.com/?lang=it-IT

Carsten Müller, thank you very much for your help.

we managed to test 46 university students with non-specific low back pain.

Static balance was measured with a force plate on unstable surface, and dynamic balance with the Y balance test. We also testes dynamic balance on the force plate, with a voluntary arm movement, but we didn't manage the matlab routine to work the data.

We had statistic improvements both in static and dynamic balance in the Pilates group.

Pilates group did 4 pilates exercices: single leg stretch (level 1), pelvic press (level 1), swimming (level 1) and kneeling opposite arm and leg reach

control group rested

It is my master's study. I am going to present it shortly and the publish the article. 

Best regards

Dear Giovanna

I did not understand your question. In our laboratory we have 2 force plates an a Vicon movement analysis system

best regards

i guess you go for the SEBT for dynamic balance as it is reliable, quick and cost-effective.

https://www.science.gov/topicpages/b/balance+test+sebt

Thank you. It was exactly our choice

Hi Giovanna. You can use the TUG: Time up and go.

It can be complicated by performing the task while the patient holds a tray with over objects: dual task

http://www.rehabmeasures.org/PDF%20Library/Timed%20Up%20and%20Go%20Test%20Instructions.pdf

What do you think?

Giovanna Censi

Hello, I do know much about the TUG: Time up and go. Only that it is used for an older population. My question is that would the results be comparable to other studies, and another, the learning effect

For the SEBT, according to literature, 3 trails seems enough to practice. Would it be the same for the TUG with a dual task?

Susana Lopes

Here in the NeuroRehabilitation Clinic - Ancona Italy- Polytechnic University, the TUG with dual task is used in assessment of walking and balance

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000399930601481X

May I suggest to read the thesis of Henri Kiers Uni .Utrecht called Proprioception, Associations with low back pain ans physical Activity out 2014.

Very good

success

jan van de Rakt