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Berg Balance Test

Overview and Statistics

 

Purpose: 14-item test that assesses static standing balance and subsequent fall risk

Diagnoses Assessed:

  • Stroke
  • SCI's
  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • TBI's
  • Vestibular Disorders
  • Geriatrics

Diagnoses-Specific Statistical Breakdown:

Strokes:

  • SEM:
    • Ambulates with assistance=2.93
    • Ambulates with stand-by-assistance=2.15
    • Ambulates independently=2.26
  • MDC:
    • Ambulates with assistance=8.1
    • Ambulates with stand-by-assistance=6.0
    • Ambulates independently=6.3
  • Cut-off score=45/56
  • Test-retest reliability=.98
  • Intra-rater reliability=.97
  • Inter-rater reliability=.98
  • Internal consistency (acute strokes)=.97

SCI's:

  • Inter-rater reliability=.95
  • Internal consistency=.95

Parkinson's Disease:

  • MDC=5 points
  • Test-retest reliability=.80
  • Intra-rater reliability=.95
  • Inter-rater reliability=.84
  • Internal consistency=.92

TBI's:

  • SEM=1.65
  • Test-retest reliability=.98

Geriatrics:

  • SEM:
    • Initial score: 0-24=1.7
    • Initial score: 25-34=2.3
    • Initial score: 35-44=1.8
    • Initial score: 45-56=1.2
  • MDC=8
  • Cut-off score=<45/56 indicates higher risk of falls
  • Test-retest reliability=.77
  • Intra-rater reliability=.97
  • Inter-rater reliability=.88

Resources

1. Rehab measures: Berg Balance Scale. Rehabilitation Measures Database Web site. 2013. Available at: http://www.rehabmeasures.org/Lists/RehabMeasures/DispForm.aspxID=888&Source=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Erehabmeasures%2Eorg%2FLists%2FRehabMeasures%2FAdmin%2Easpx. Accessed March 24, 2014.