Functional Balance Tests for Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Review Study

Knowledge of the functional balance tests for the patients with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) may provide useful and accurate information about the balance function of these patients under different situations.

This study aims to review the functional balance tests for PwMS.

This is a systematic review. The search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, LILACS, CINAHL, CENTRAL, Web of Science, PEDro, and Google Scholar databases on relevant studies published until November 2021.

Twenty-five articles and 25 different tests were found to evaluate the functional balance of PwMS. It was found that the studies used 6 tests to assess the static balance, 13 tests to assess dynamic balance, and 6 multi-item tests to assess functional balance in PwMS. Single-leg stance test, balance error scoring system test and steady stance test is a test battery for static balance; six-spot step test, timed up and go test, and figure-of-8 hop test are better for dynamic balance, and the balance evaluation systems test is a better multiitem test to assess the balance of PwMS by examining the postural control components.

Single-limb standing test, balance error scoring system (BESS) test and steady stance test provide accurate data on static balance; six spot step test, Timed Get up and go test and figure-of-8 hop test provide valuable data on the dynamic balance and Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest) is a valid test to assess the balance of PwMS from the perspective of the review of posture control components.