Using psychometric techniques to improve the Balance Evaluation Systems Test: the mini-BESTest

To improve, with the aid of psychometric analysis, the Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest), a tool designed to analyse several postural control systems that may contribute to poor functional balance in adults.

Performance of the BESTest was examined in a convenience sample of 115 consecutive adult patients with diverse neurological diagnoses and disease severity, referred to rehabilitation for balance disorders. Factor (both explorative and confirmatory) and Rasch analysis were used to process the data in order to produce a new, reduced and coherent balance measurement tool.