Normative values of the Balance Evaluation System Test (BESTest), Mini-BESTest, Brief-BESTest, Timed Up and Go Test and Usual Gait Speed in healthy older Portuguese people

Authors

  • Sara Isabel Lebre de Almeida Lab 3R – Respiratory Research and Rehabilitation Laboratory, School of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro (ESSUA), Aveiro, Portugal.
  • Alda Marques Lab 3R – Respiratory Research and Rehabilitation Laboratory, School of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro (ESSUA), Aveiro, Portugal.Institute for Research in Biomedicine (iBiMED), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
  • Joana Santos Lab 3R – Respiratory Research and Rehabilitation Laboratory, School of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro (ESSUA), Aveiro, Portugal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v33i2.12039

Keywords:

Normative values, Balance, Mobility, Gait speed, Older people, Portugal.

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to establish age and gender-related normative values for the Balance Evaluation System Test (BESTest), Mini-BESTest, Brief-BESTest, Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and Usual Gait Speed (UGS) for Portuguese healthy older people aged 60 to 89 years. Design: An exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted. Local: Portugal. Population: Portuguese healthy older people aged 60 to 89 years. Methods: Participants were recruited from the community. Socio-demographic, anthropometric and general clinical data were collected with a structured questionnaire based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. Balance was assessed with the BESTest, Mini-BESTest and Brief-BESTest, mobility with the TUG and gait speed with the six meters UGS. Normative scores were reported by age decades (60-69; 70-79 and 80-89 years old) and gender. Results: One hundred and thirteen healthy older people (75.8±8.9 years; 70.5% female) participated in this study. Mean scores for the BESTest (86.5±15.6; 82.6±14.5; 72.6±15.0), Mini-BESTest (22.4±6.3; 21.6±5.9; 16.2±6.2), Brief-BESTest (17.5±6.3; 16.0±6.0; 10.2±5.5) and UGS (122.3±46.8cm/s; 116.6±47.3cm/s; 73.8±32.6cm/s) decreased whereas TUG (8.9±2.8s; 9.5±4.0s; 16.8±5.3s) increased as age advanced. Female presented worse results than male. Mean scores of all measures were significantly different among age and gender groups (p<.05). Conclusions: This study provides normative values of BESTest, Mini-BESTest, Brief-BESTest, TUG and UGS, which may contribute to develop tailored interventions to improve balance, mobility and gait speed in Portuguese healthy older people living in the community.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2017-03-01

Issue

Vol. 33 No. 2 (2017): Revista Portuguesa de Medicina Geral e Familiar

Section

Original Research

License

The authors will assign to the RPMGF the sole right to publish and distribute the content of the manuscript specified in this declaration via physical, electronic, broadcasting or any other medium that may come into existence. They also grant the RPMGF the right to use and exploit this manuscript, in particular by assigning, selling or licensing its content. This permission is permanent and takes effect from the moment the manuscript is submitted, has the maximum duration allowed by applicable Portuguese or international law and is of worldwide scope. The authors further declare that this assignment is made free of charge. If the RPMGF informs the authors that it is not going to publish their manuscript, the exclusive assignment of rights ceases forthwith.

The authors authorise the RPMGF (or any entity it may appoint) to act on their behalf when it believes that copyright may have been infringed.

 

How to Cite

Normative values of the Balance Evaluation System Test (BESTest), Mini-BESTest, Brief-BESTest, Timed Up and Go Test and Usual Gait Speed in healthy older Portuguese people. (2017). Portuguese Journal of Family Medicine and General Practice, 33(2), 106-116. https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v33i2.12039

Most read articles by the same author(s)