Archives of Rehabilitation Research and Clinical Translation · Published 2026-01-24 · DOI 10.1016/j.arrct.2026.100588
Objective: To assess the accuracy and reliability of peer exercise leader ratings of balance exercise intensity using the Balance Intensity Scale Therapist version – Global Rating of Effort (BIS-T GRE). Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Two community peer-led exercise programs in Canada. Participants: Fourteen leaders (N=14) who were currently teaching or had taught a class in the past year and had completed introductory training on the BIS-T GRE. Interventions: A 90-minute online facilitated training, including practice rating videos of older adults performing balance exercise tasks and moderated discussion. Main Outcome Measures: (1) Accuracy of peer exercise leaders’ BIS-T GRE ratings for 8 videos of older adults performing balance exercise tasks in 2 independent rating sessions compared with expert ratings; and (2) interrater and test–retest reliability of BIS-T GRE ratings. Results: Mean ratings were the same or lower than expert scores, with significant differences in 4 videos in session 1 and 5 videos in session 2 (all P<.03). A total of 97% of ratings had acceptable accuracy in session 1, and 90% in session 2 (P=.027). Interrater reliability was excellent (intraclass coefficient range=0.980-0.988), and test–retest reliability was good to excellent (intraclass coefficient range=0.744-0.986). Conclusions: Peer exercise leaders in Canadian community programs can accurately and reliably rate balance exercise intensity in older adults using the BIS-T GRE.
Abstract from DOAJ. Public domain (CC0 1.0).
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