Reliability and Validity of Modified Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients and the Application of This Scale on Early Detection of Patients With Stroke at High Risk of Falls

Due to the impaired balance function, patients with stroke show high incidence of falls. Impaired postural stability has been shown as one of the primary risk factors of falls in these patients. Research has shown that patients who have moderate level of mobility and stability are more likely to fall than those who have very good or very poor mobility and stability. Therefore, there is an urgent need for physical therapists, who are used to play an important role in improving balance function of patients with stroke, to be able to early detect stroke patients who are at high risk of falls, and to implement fall prevention training and education on these patients. However, to date, there is not any clinical assessment scale that can be used for early detection of fall-prone stroke patients.