The Berg Balance Scale is a measure used to assess the quality of a patient’s balance while sitting and standing. This test is usually done by a physical therapist (health care professional who provides treatment to maintain, enhance, or restore movement and physical function in people with impaired abilities).
Full Answer
What is the Berg Balance Score?
The Berg Balance Score (BBS) is the best-known balance measurement tool, originally designed to measure balance in older individuals. It consists of 14 items scored on an ordinal scale of 0 to 4 for a total of 56 points (a higher score indicates lower fall risk).
What is the Berg Balance Scale for stroke rehabilitation?
"The Berg balance scale as a predictor of length of stay and discharge destination in an acute stroke rehabilitation setting." Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 80 (4): 448-452. Find it on PubMed Wee, J., Wong, H., et al. (2003).
What is the Berg test and why is it important?
Residents like to see evidence that they are progressing, and even though they may not have progressed to the next “level” of independence, the Berg Test allows them to see that they are performing tasks with less loss of balance, and that provides positive reinforcement to continue to progress toward goals.
Is the Berg Balance Scale available in the public domain?
Available in the public domain: Berg Balance Scale Link or The Internet Stroke Center Website Link. Please click here for more information on the Pediatric Modification of the Berg Balance Scale. Supplemental – Highly Recommended: Spinal Cord Injury (SCI); not recommended for youth < 18y.
How do you use the Berg Balance Scale?
How do you do a Berg balance scale test? Your healthcare provider will ask you to perform a series of tasks. Your ability to perform each of these tasks is graded on a scale from 0 to 4 and the scores are added together. The highest possible score is 56.
What is a good Berg Balance Scale score?
A score of 56 indicates functional balance. A score of < 45 indicates individuals may be at greater risk of falling.
How many items are administered in the Berg balance test?
The Berg Balance Score (BBS) is the best-known balance measurement tool, originally designed to measure balance in older individuals. It consists of 14 items scored on an ordinal scale of 0 to 4 for a total of 56 points (a higher score indicates lower fall risk).
Can the Berg Balance Scale be used with stroke patients?
In a recent study of 655 physical therapists working with a stroke population, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was identified as the most commonly used assessment tool across the continuum of stroke rehabilitation.
Is the Berg Balance Scale standardized?
There are standardized instructions for each item of the BBS. Items are scored on a 5 point ordinal scale. Points are deducted for requiring supervision, assistance and/or taking more than the allotted time to complete the task. The lowest category that applies should be marked.
How do you administer a berg?
1:044:12Berg Balance Test - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOne with and one without arm rests or a bed. And a chair measure. Six standing unsupported with eyesMoreOne with and one without arm rests or a bed. And a chair measure. Six standing unsupported with eyes closed please close your eyes and stand still for ten seconds measure seven standing.
Can you use assistive device with Berg balance?
Assistive devices should not be used by a patient when performing the BBS.
How do you do a balance test?
Test Your Balance With Balance TestsHave you ever taken a step on a slippery patch of ice or uneven snow and almost lost your balance?Stand with your feet touching side by side and close your eyes: You should be able to stand for > 30 seconds without swaying or losing your balance.More items...
Objective
The Berg balance scale is used to objectively determine a patient's ability (or inability) to safely balance during a series of predetermined tasks.
Intended Population
Elderly population with impairment of balance, patients with acute stroke (Berg et al 1995, Usuda et al 1998).
Interpretation
Cut-off scores for the elderly were reported by Berg et al 1992 as follows :
Older Adults and Geriatric Care
Older Adults: (Donoghue et al., 2009; n = 118 people over 65 years of age without a history of stroke; mean age = 85 (6.6) years)
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis: (Jogi et al., 2010; n = 54 patients, 26 with total hip arthroplasty (THA) and 28 with total knee arthroplasty (TKA); mean age for THA = 68 (8) years; mean age for TKA = 64 (10) years)
Parkinson's Disease
Parkinsonism: (Steffen and Seney, 2008; n = 37; mean age = 71 years; mean Hoehn & Yahr classification = 2, scores ranged from 1-4)
Limb Loss and Amputation
Transfemoral Amputees: (Azuma et al., 2019; n = 30; Mean Age = 54 (19); Mean Time Post Amputation = 10 months for initial hospitalization, 192 months for re-hospitalization, and 106 months for outpatient)
Pulmonary Diseases
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: (Jácome, 2016; n= 46 mean age: 75.9 (7.1) years; clinically stable for 1 month prior to study)
Alzheimer's Disease and Progressive Dementia
Dementia: (Telenius et al., 2015; n= 33 (8 male and 25 female); Mean age= 82.7; Individuals residing in 4 different nursing homes, above the age of 55, having a mild to moderate degree of dementia according to the Dementia Rating Scale, able to stand up alone or with the help of one person, being able to walk 6 m with or without a walking aid).
More Instruments Like This
We have reviewed nearly 300 instruments for use with a number of diagnoses including stroke, spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury among several others.
What It Is
The Berg Balance Scale is a measure used to assess the quality of balance in patients when sitting and standing. The test is most often completed by a physical therapist (a healthcare professional who provides therapy to preserve, enhance, or restore movement and physical function in people whose abilities are impaired).
How It Works
The Berg Balance Scale is an examination assessment comprised of 14 questions, with a total score out of 56 points. The test scorer can score items between 0 and 4 based on the quality of movement observed with each of the items.
Uses
The Berg Balance Scale is an objective way of assessing balance deficits in patients seeking physical therapy services. It allows the therapist to understand the patient's functional limitations in order to develop ways to help.
A Word From Verywell
Because the quality of a patient’s balance can be hard to quantify, the Berg Balance Scale can be a useful tool to help provide objective data indicating balance problems and risk for falls. This information can be useful to patients, physical therapists, physicians, and insurance companies to help justify needs for skilled physical therapy.
What is the Berg Balance Scale?
The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was developed by Katherine Berg in 1989 to measure balance ability (static and dynamic) among older adults.96 The BBS is a qualitative measure that assesses balance via performing functional activities such as reaching, bending, transferring, and standing that incorporates most components of postural control: sitting and transferring safely between chairs; standing with feet apart, feet together, in single-leg stance, and feet in the tandem Romberg position with eyes open or closed; reaching and stooping down to pick something off the floor. Each item is scored along a 5-point scale, ranging from 0 to 4, each grade with well-established criteria. Zero indicates the lowest level of function and 4 the highest level of function. The total score ranges from 0 to 56. The BBS is reliable (both inter- and intratester) and has concurrent and construct validity. 107,108
What does a higher BBS score mean?
Higher scores on the BBS indicate greater independence and better ability to balance. 7 In contrast, lower scores indicate a greater fall risk. Prior evidence suggested that a total score of less than 45 predicted that the patient is at risk for falls. 8,9 However, more recent literature by Katherine Berg discourages the use the score as a dichotomous scale (i.e., determining fall risk based on values being greater than or less than 45 points). 10 Rather, the score should be used to represent a continuum of balance, through the use of likelihood ratios. 10
How many points do you need to change to be a BBS?
In patients who are over 65 years of age and are dependent in at least one personal activity of daily living, a change of 8 points on the BBS is necessary to demonstrate a genuine change in function. 11
What equipment is needed for a BBS 14?
Equipment needed is a standard chair with armrests, step stool of average height, ruler or yardstick, and slipper or shoe. The BBS-7 requires the same equipment except a stool.
How to mark out a ruler for a therapist?
The therapist will need to mark out a long ruler on a wall at the patient's shoulder height. When the patient stands comfortably, he or she should be asked to lift one arm up at 90° and make a fist (start position). Then the patient is asked to reach forwards as far as possible (finishing position).
A Quick Recap: Measuring Balance
When selecting a test to measure balance, there are multiple factors therapists consider, which ultimately help match up a test to our resident.
The Berg Balance Scale (BBS)
What Does It Measure?: Measures balance in a progressive sequence incorporating components used in other balance tests (ie: Tinetti, Functional Reach, Tandem Stand).
Documentation and Billing
The initial performance of the test can be incorporated into an initial evaluation or performed separately at any time during the course of treatment.
In Summary
Residents like to see evidence that they are progressing, and even though they may not have progressed to the next “level” of independence, the Berg Test allows them to see that they are performing tasks with less loss of balance, and that provides positive reinforcement to continue to progress toward goals.
What is the Berg Balance Scale?
The Berg Balance Scale is designed to provide a functional measure of balance performance. The wBerg Balance Scale consists of 14 items, each corresponding to a balance-related task. Items are scored from 0 to 4 points. 0 represents the lowest performance level and 4 the highest performance level for the 14 tasks. The total score is calculated out of 56, with 56 representing the best balance-related performance and 0 representing the worst balance-related performance. The Berg Balance Scale is also available in a short form version. The short form Berg Scale offers a comparable estimate of balance-related performance to the original Berg Balance Scale yet is easier for the healthcare provider and patient to complete.
Who developed the Berg Balance Scale?
The Berg Balance Scale was developed by a team led by Dr. Katherine Berg, who is Associate Professor Emeritus in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Toronto. Her clinical care is focused on geriatric patients.
