FALLS-BERG BALANCE SCORE

SUMMARY

1. 14 items requiring subjects to maintain positions or complete movement tasks of varying levels of difficulty. Items receive a score of 0-4.

2. Maximum score = 56. A score of less than 45 is indicative of balance impairment or risk of falling.

ADVANTAGES
3. Measures a number of different aspects of balance, both static and dynamic.
4. Requires little equipment or space and no specialized training.
5. High levels of reliability even when test is administered by an untrained assessor.

DISADVANTAGES
6. Takes somewhat longer to administer than other balance measures.
7. As no common standards for interpretation of BBS scores exist, their relationship to mobility status and the requirement for mobility aides is not known.
8. Decreased sensitivity in early stage post-stroke among severely affected patients as scale includes only one item relating to balance in the sitting position.

Reference(s)

Cifu, D.X. (2020). Braddom’s physical medicine and rehabilitation. Elsevier. Get it on Amazon.
Cuccurullo, S. (2019). Physical medicine and rehabilitation board review. New York: Demosmedical. Get it on Amazon.
O’Young, B., Young, M.A. and Stiens, S.A. (2008). Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Secrets. Mosby. Get it on Amazon.