Berg Balance Scale printable pdf download

Berg Balance Scale

About: This scale measures balance in older adults.

Items: 14

Equipment:

Yardstick

One standard chair with arm rests

One standard chair without arm rests

Footstool/step

Stopwatch or wristwatch

15 foot walkway

Reliability: Cronbach's alphas were greater than 0.83 for stroke patients and 0.97 for elderly

residents.

Scoring:

A five-point scale, a range of 0-4.

0 = lowest level of function

4 = highest level of function.

Highest possible score = 56

Score of < 45 indicates a greater risk of falling

41-56 = low fall risk

21-40 = medium fall risk

0 –20 = high fall risk

Reference:

Berg K, Wood-Dauphinee S, Williams JI, Maki, B (1992).

Measuring balance in the elderly:

validation of an instrument.

Can. J. Pub. Health July/August supplement 2:S7-11

Norms:

Lusardi, M.M. (2004).

Functional Performance in Community Living Older

Adults. Journal of

Geriatric Physical Therapy, 26(3), 14-22.

Berg Balance Scale