Reliability of the adapted compensatory arm and leg movements scale during perturbation treadmill walking in older adults.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Reactive balance during walking is crucial for fall prevention, as it determines recovery from unexpected perturbations like slips and trips. Existing reactive balance assessments are complex and lab-based, lacking an easy-to-use alternative for broader application in clinical environments. The Adapted Compensatory Arm and Leg Movements (A-CALM) scale was developed to address this gap by providing an observer-based tool to evaluate compensatory balance reactions during perturbation treadmill walking. This study assessed its inter- and intra-rater reliability in fall-prone older adults.

Methods

Eighteen participants aged 82 ± 7 years walked on the BalanceTutor® perturbation treadmill. Depending on assigned intensity levels, each received 8, 16, or 24 perturbation

SUBMITTER: Schwenk M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12483446 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature