Self-Reported Balance Confidence following Traumatic Vs. Non-Traumatic Brain Injury

Objective: To evaluate the difference between balance confidence for individuals with traumatic brain injuries vs non-traumatic brain injuries (BI).
Methods: This was a convenience sample of 141 individuals who participated in a larger study evaluating the effects of self-reported balance confidence on community integration. Inclusion criteria included adults over the age of 18, who have had a BI, are living in the community, and completed the online survey. The information from the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) component of the survey was extracted for analysis.
Results: Data from 119 completed surveys was included in the analysis. No significant difference was found between ABC total scores (p = .627) for individuals with traumatic vs non-traumatic BIs (p > .05).
Discussion/Conclusion: Current literature regarding balance confidence primarily focuses on individuals with traumatic brain injuries. However, the results of this study support the concept that the degree of balance confidence an individual possesses is not dependent upon whether their BI was incurred traumatically or acquired. The results of this study support future research that is inclusive of individuals with a history of BI from a non-traumatic cause.