Comparison of a Mobile Technology Application with the Balance Error Scoring System

Context: The most widely used method for postural balance assessment relies on the subjective observations of a test administrator. Accelerometry has been shown to provide a valid and reliable method for assessment of balance, and recent advances in microelectromechanical systems have made the technology available in mobile electronic devices. Objective: To compare a mobile technology application with a commonly used subjective balance assessment. Setting: Biomechanics laboratory. Participants: Twenty-one nonathlete college-aged individuals (7 men, 14 women; mean age 23 ± 3 years) volunteered to participate. Subjects were excluded if they reported any preexisting condition that might affect postural balance. Results: A strong inverse correlation was found between the scores for the two balance assessment methods (r = -.767, p < .01). Conclusions: Advances in technology have provided an attractive means to objectively quantify postural balance with off-the-shelf mobile consumer electronic devices.