• Stanley J Winser, Catherine M Smith, Leigh A Hale, Leica S Claydon, Susan L Whitney, and Poonam Mehta.
• Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand stanley.winser@otago.ac.nz stanjwpt@gmail.com.
• Clin Rehabil. 2015 Jan 1; 29 (1): 69-79.

ObjectiveTo review systematically the psychometric properties of balance measures for use in people with cerebellar ataxia.Data SourcesMedline, AMED, CINAHL, Web of Science and EMBASE were searched between 1946 and April 2014.Review MethodsTwo reviewers independently searched data sources. Cerebellar-specific and generic measures of balance were considered. Included studies tested psychometric properties of balance measures in people with cerebellar ataxia of any cause. Quality of reported studies was rated using the Consensus Based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist.ResultsTwenty-one articles across which 16 measures had been tested were included for review. Using the COSMIN, quality of methodology in studies investigating psychometric properties of generic balance measures (n=10) was rated predominantly as 'poor'. Furthermore, responsiveness has not been tested for any generic measures in this population. The quality of studies investigating psychometric properties of balance sub-components of the cerebellar-specific measures (n=6) ranged from 'poor' to 'excellent'; however, Minimally Clinically Important Difference has not been determined for these cerebellar-specific measures.ConclusionThe Posture and Gait (PG) sub-component of the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) demonstrates the most robust psychometric properties with acceptable clinical utility.© The Author(s) 2014.

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