Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy - Department of Basic Science

Background: The ability to provide quantitative measures of dynamic balance is the benefit of objective tools. There is an essential need for developing an objective, easy use, portable and cost effective tool to measure the personal dynamic balance and with the huge spread of the smart phone which in our life using it in the assessment of balance will meet the needed features. Purpose: To investigate the validity of sway balance software loaded on Iphone device in measuring the dynamic balance by comparing it with Biodex Balance System which is a valid and reliable device in this issue. Subjects: Thirty healthy non-athletic subjects (8 females and 22 males; age=23.9 ± 3.38years; BMI=22.53±1.64 kg/m2) were selected from the under and postgraduate students of Faculty of physical therapy, Cairo university. Methods: Subjects were recruited in one group and were tested their dynamic balance by both Sway balance software mobile application and the biodex balance system at the same time throw four condition (foot together, semi tandem, tandem and single leg stance) with eyes opened. Each participant performed two experimental trials of the four conditions one at level 8 and other at level 4 Biodex balance system difficulty with a familiarization trail prior to both. Results: At level 8, there was a negative significant correlation between the overall postural sway and overall stability index in all conditions except the semi tandem position which show no significance correlation. While at level 4 all the four condition show negative significant correlation. Conclusion: According to the finding of this study, Sway balance software mobile application could be used in clinics and other fields as a valid objective tool to measure dynamic balance

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