What is already known on this topic: The Berg Balance Scale scores balance from 0 (very poor) to 56 (normal) and is widely used in many clinical populations. It has well-established, favourable clinimetric properties. What this study adds: Normative data from community-dwelling people aged around 70 years indicates a normal Berg Balance Scale score. With each subsequent year, however, mean scores decrease by about 0.7 points, and variability in the scores increases. Ethics: Not applicable. Competing interests: Nil. Support:

This research was conducted as part of a master’s degree by Stephen Downs with the University of Newcastle. The University provided academic supervision and use of the library, including electronically accessing papers and the use of ‘get-it’ to access papers not electronically available. Support has also been CHIR-99021 nmr provided to attend conferences to present PD0332991 mw research findings. No direct financial support has been provided. Acknowledgements: The authors acknowledge

Alastair Merrifield, who provided biostatistical advice while he was a trainee biostatistician with the NSW Centre for Epidemiology and Research. Correspondence: Stephen Downs, Transitional Aged Care Service, Bellingen Hospital, Bellingen 2454, Australia. Email: [email protected] “
“Chronic low back pain is a very prevalent condition1 and it is associated with enormous health and socioeconomic costs.2 The prognosis of acute low back pain3 is initially favourable with reduction of pain and disability in the first six weeks. After this period, there is a slower improvement in symptoms for up to one year.3 Several treatments are available for people with chronic low back pain. These treatments include:

educational programs,4 medication,5, 6 and 7 electrophysical agents,8 manual therapy,9 exercises10 and others.11 Nevertheless, these treatments have, at best, a moderate effect, thus, more effective treatments are needed for low back pain.12 and 13 Kinesio Taping14 is a new method of treatment that is very popular in sports15 and it has also been proposed for people with low back pain.16 and 17 This technique makes use of elastic adhesive tape, which is applied to the patient’s skin under tension.14 The elastic tape that is used with only this technique can be extended up to 140% of its original length.14 The tape is thin and light, and made of 100% cotton fabric that is Modulators porous and does not restrict the range of motion. The tape is adhesive and activated by heat, does not contain latex, and is reported to have similar elasticity to the skin.14 The tape can last for a period of three to five days and can be used in water. The expansion of the Kinesio® Tex Tape is only in the longitudinal direction.14 During patient assessment, the therapist decides what level of tension will be used.