BioPsychoSocial Assessment Tools for the Elderly - Assessment Summary Sheet Test: Berg Balance Scale (BBS) Year: 1989 Domain: Biological Assessment Tool Category: Mobility Variations/Translations: N/A Setting: Can be done anywhere; clinical setting is preferred. Method of Delivery: Patient interview/test Description: The BBS was developed as a functional measure of balance impairment in elderly individuals by assessing the performance of functional tasks. The BBS is easy to perform and has been shown to be reliable and valid in a geriatric population. The BBS is used to assess a subject’s ability to maintain balance while performing a series of 14 tasks required in everyday living. The tasks include sit to stand, stand to sit, stand and sit unsupported, transfer bed to chair, stand eyes closed, stand feet together, reach forward, pick up an object from the floor, single-leg stance and tandem standing, turn and look over each shoulder, turn 360°, and stepping. The BBS is a 14-item scale designed to measure balance of the older adult in any setting, however, preferably in a clinical setting. A ruler, two standard chairs (one with arm rests, one without), footstool or step, stopwatch or wristwatch, 15 ft. walkway are required for this scale. Scoring/Interpretation: A five-point scale, ranging from 0-4 is utilized. “0” indicates the lowest level of function and “4” the highest level of function. Total score = 56.Generally, a score of: 41-56 = low fall risk 21-40 = medium fall risk 0-20 = high fall risk Time to Administer: 15-20 minutes Availability: Can be found online (see below) Software: N/A Website: http://www.aahf.info/pdf/Berg_Balance_Scale.pdf Quantitative/Qualitative: Quantitative Validity (Quantitative): The BBS correlates with Tinetti mobility index (r = .91) and the Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) test (r = -.76) on a moderately high level which states that a person who scores low on the Berg will have a higher test score (time for completion) on the TUG test. Reliability (Quantitative): High inter-rater and intra-rater reliability (ICC = 0.98 and 0.98, respectively). The BBS has been evaluated in several reliability studies. A recent study of the BBS, which was completed in Finland, indicates that a change of 8 BBS points is required to reveal a genuine change among older people who are dependent in ADL and living in residential care facilities. References: Berg, K., Wood-Dauphinee, S., Williams, J.I., & Gayton, D (1989). Measuring balance in the elderly: preliminary development of an instrument. Physiotherapy Canada, 41(6), 304-311. Lajoie, Y. & Gallagher, S.P. (2005). Predicting Falls within the Elderly Community: Comparison of Postural Sway, Reaction Time, the Berg Balance Scale, and the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale for Comparing Fallers and Non-Fallers. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 86(4), 789-792. Comments: N/A