SIMPLE, FAST AND RELIABLE ASSESSMENT OF BALANCE ON SOFT SUPPORT SURFACE: BOBO WOBBLY BALANCE BOARD
1Karabük Üniversitesi, Odyometri Bölümü, Karabük, Türkiye2Karabük Üniversitesi, Fizyoterapi ve Rehabilitasyon Bölümü, Karabük, Türkiye
3Karabük Üniversitesi, Tıbbi Hizmetler ve Teknikler Bölümü, Karabük, Türkiye Background: Force plate platforms are a reliable and valid testing method to assess balance and postural stability. However, these platforms are expensive, and it takes time to implement tests with these platforms. This study aims to investigate the relationship between BoBo Wobbly Balance Board and force plate platforms.
Methods: One hundred healthy individuals were included in this study. Balance tests were administered to these individuals using a Bertec force plate in six different conditions (eyes open and closed on firm and soft surfaces with both legs (TLST); eyes open on firm and soft surfaces with one leg (OLST) and using a BoBo Wobbly Balance Board in four different conditions (eyes open and closed TLST; eyes open OLST and eyes open dynamic balance ).
Results: There was a positive correlation between the eyes open TLST on a soft surface administered with the force plate and the eyes open TLST administered with the BoBo Wobbly, as well as between the eyes closed TLST on a soft surface administered with the force plate and the eyes closed TLST administered with the BoBo Wobbly (p<0.05).
Conclusions: There is a relationship between tests performed with BoBo Wobbly and force plate tests applied to soft surfaces. The BoBo Wobbly can be used as a portable, low-cost posturograph to assess balance on soft surfaces. However, further studies are needed to investigate the threshold and normative values of BoBo Wobbly to evaluate the fall risk of individuals.
Keywords : BoBo Wobbly, force plate, balance, falling, postural stability