BTrackS™ Assess Balance software provides an affordable suite of testing protocols to objectively and accurately determine balance and posture abilities. This includes the BTrackS™Balance Test, an evaluation of postural sway that can be done in just minutes to determine percentile rankings and Fall Risk. The latest software also includes, weight distribution percentages, biofeedback-based balance training and an optional protocol for sensory screening.
BTrackS™ software is provided via internet download following purchase of the system. Double click the setup file and follow the installation instructions to load the Assess Balance application onto your Windows PC, laptop or tablet.
Enter information about the individual to be tested in order to establish a profile for tracking results. Profile information is saved locally to your computer or can be linked to the cloud via a private cloud profile system (PCPS).
Choose and perform balance testing with the BTrackS™ Balance Test or one of three additional testing protocols focusing on posture/weight distribution, balance training and sensory screening (CTSIB option).
BTrackS™ Assess Balance provides instant results following testing and training. These can be printed to share with the individual tested, other health professionals or for insurance purposes. These results can be accessed later for reference.
The BTrackS™Balance Test (BBT) is the standard testing protocol for all BTrackS software applications. The BBT detects disrupted balance in a quiet, eyes-closed, feet shoulder width apart standing position. This is accomplished during four 20-second trials where the first trial is for familiarization and the following three trials are used to measure the average number of centimeters of postural sway. A key feature of the BBT is its high test-retest reliability, making it optimal for monitoring changes in balance ability over time.
After an individual has taken the BTrackS™ Balance Test they are automatically provided with a Fall Risk Assessment. This assessment places the individual into a LOW, MODERATE or HIGH risk category. Categorization is based on relative performance such that HIGH risk status is a balance result worse than 98% (two standard deviations) of typical adults. This categorization aligns with published statistics for the number of adults who fall and studies showing that increased postural sway is a significant risk factor for falling.
Integrated into the BTrackS™ Assess Balance software is a powerful normative database of over 17,000 results. Using this data, each individual tested is given a percentile ranking following performance of the BTrackS™ Balance Test. This ranking is specific for both sex and age grouping. Those individuals with high percentile rankings are performing well for their age. In contrast, those individuals with a low percentile ranking can be targeted for balance interventions.
The standard measure of performance for the BTrackS™ Balance Test is the average center of pressure path length (in centimeters) over the course of three balance trials. While this is an accurate and reliable measure of postural sway, some balance clinicians may be interested in additional measures of balance performance. For these users, BTrackS™ Assess Balance provides 10 additional advanced metrics that capture the various size, speed and consistency characteristics of center of pressure.
With BTrackS™ Assess Balance, users can quickly and effectively determine global postural alignment during relaxed standing. If the individual has good posture, their center of pressure will be located in an ideal position midway between the ankles – represented by the white cross hair on the associated image.
BTrackS™ Assess Balance also uses normative data to provide a 90% confidence ellipse metric. If posture lies within the ellipse, it is within the typical range of postures demonstrated by 90% of healthy adults.
BTrackS™ Assess Balance further provides users with a measure of weight distribution, calculating the percentage of pressure placed on the left/right and front/back halves of the feet. Weight bearing asymmetries are indicator of compensatory postural strategies and may relate to imbalances across the body.
Using real-time biofeedback about center of pressure, BTrackS™ Balance Training helps individuals learn to control postural sway. During training, center of pressure is moved (dynamic control), and held (static control), in circular target locations presented for ten seconds on an image of the BTrackS™ Balance Plate. If center of pressure is maintained in a target for three consecutive seconds, the target is hit.
To ensure the task remains engaging and fosters learning, target size is manipulated throughout training. After 5 trials, targets get smaller after they are hit if performance is above 75% (smallest target =1cm). If performance is below 75% hit rate, the target gets bigger on every miss (largest target 10cm). Performance is monitored by three key metrics: 1) Duration of time spent training, 2) Percentage of targets hit, and 3) The smallest target size hit.
The CTSIB is an optional testing protocol that can be added to your purchase of BTrackS™ Assess Balance. The CTSIB is used by experienced balance practitioners to try and assess how the three main sensory feedback systems for balance (i.e. proprioception, vision, vestibular) are functioning relative to one another. This is done by comparing balance conditions where vision and proprioception are manipulated by having the person close their eyes or stand on compliant foam respectively.
In addition to providing a comparison of postural sway across conditions, BTrackS™ Assess Balance gives a composite result for all tests performed. Further, 95% confidence ellipses are provided for each test condition. Irregularities in the ellipse size and direction can be informative as part of a larger clinical picture of sensory function.
