PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE TESTS AS PREDICTORS OF BALANCE CONFIDENCE IN PERSONS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS. Jane Wetzel2; Susan Kushner1; Julie L. Vasicek*1; Shawna Smith1; Angela English1 1. Physical Therapy, Slippery Rock University, Crescent, PA; 2. Physical Therapy, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA PURPOSE: The focus of this study was to identify the extent to which balance confidence, as measured by the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC Scale), could be explained by performance on the Romberg test (RMB), functional stair test (FST), sit-to-stand (SS) and the 6- Minute Walk test (6MWT). BACKGROUNDS/SIGNIFICANCE: Physical therapists frequently examine balance, sit-stand, stair climbing ability and walking endurance in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the relationship between physical performance in these tasks and perception of balance ability in persons with MS is not known. Some persons with MS may be reluctant to be active when confidence in balance is lacking. SUBJECTS: Seventeen adult subjects with clinically diagnosed MS participated in this study. Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores for subjects ranged from 2.5 to 6.5. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Subjects were included if they were afebrile, ambulatory and clinically diagnosed with MS. Investigators evaluated the EDSS status and asked subjects to rate their balance confidence on the ABC Scale. Physical performance testing variables included timed RMB (up to 30 seconds), total time to complete 6 repetitions sit-to-stand (SS), total time to ascend 4 steps then turn and descend 4 steps (FST) and 6 MWT distance. ANALYSES: After removing one outlier, Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated between ABC Scale scores and all physical performance measures, and between all combinations of physical performance measures. Multiple linear regression analyses with p<0.05 were performed with physical performance tests serving as independent variables and ABC Scale scores as the dependent variable. RESULTS: ABC Scale score was significantly correlated with FST time (r=-.78, p<.000) and 6MWT distance (r=.88,p<.000) but not timed performance on RMB or SS. 6MWT distance correlated with FST time (r=-.88,p<.000), SS time (r=-.64,p<.007) and RMB (r=.56,p<.025). Forced linear regression of all independent variables resulted in 6MWT distance as the only variable required to predict ABC Score (R=.878, R2=.771,Adj R2=.75,p<.000). CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm the strong relationship between 6 MWT distance, FST and SS time reported by Fry-Welch et. al.(2004). Only 6MWT distance is required to predict ABC Score. It is still unclear as to whether walk test ability (6MWT) impacts on balance confidence (ABC Score) or whether decreased confidence in balance results in a poor 6MWT distance in persons with MS. Future research should evaluate the impact of endurance walking and aerobic training on balance confidence in randomized controlled trials. FUNDING SOURCE: Slippery Rock University President's Faculty/Student Research Fund KEYWORDS: balance confidence, functional mobility, multiple sclerosis, 6 MWT, Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale Copyright 2009 by the American Physical Therapy Association. Requests for reprints should be directed to the corresponding author of the article. Educators, students, and other academic customers may receive permission to reprint copyrighted material from Physical Therapy (ISSN 1538-6724) by contacting the Copyright Clearance Center Inc, 222 Rosewood Dr, Danvers, MA 01923. Other types of customers who want permission to reprint should contact the APTA Editorial Office, Attn: Physical Therapy.