Balance Test

TRANSFERS: Arrange chair(s) for pivot transfer. Ask subject to transfer one way toward a seat with armrests and one way toward a seat without armrests. You may use two chairs (one with and one without armrests) or a bed and a chair.

Able to transfer safely with minor use of hands

Able to transfer safely definite need of hands

Able to transfer with verbal cuing and/or supervision

Needs one person to assist

Needs two people to assist or supervise to be safe

Question 6

STANDING UNSUPPORTED WITH EYES CLOSED: Please close your eyes and stand still for 10 seconds.

Able to stand 10 seconds safely

Able to stand 10 seconds with supervision

Able to stand 3 seconds

Unable to keep eyes closed 3 seconds but stays safely

Needs help to keep from falling

Question 7

STANDING UNSUPPORTED WITH FEET TOGETHER: Place your feet together and stand without holding on.

Able to place feet together independently and stand 1 minute safely

Able to place feet together independently and stand 1 minute with supervision

Able to place feet together independently but unable to hold for 30 seconds

Needs help to attain position but able to stand 15 seconds feet together

Needs help to attain position and unable to hold for 15 seconds

Question 8

REACHING FORWARD WITH OUTSTRETCHED ARM WHILE STANDING: Lift arm to 90 degrees. Stretch out your fingers and reach forward as far as you can. (Examiner places a ruler at the end of fingertips when arm is at 90 degrees. Fingers should not touch the ruler while reaching forward. The recorded measure is the distance forward that the fingers reach while the subject is in the most forward lean position. When possible, ask subject to use both arms when reaching to avoid rotation of the trunk.)

Can reach forward confidently 25 cm (10 inches)

Can reach forward 12 cm (5 inches)

Can reach forward 5 cm (2 inches)

Reaches forward but needs supervision

Loses balance while trying/requires external support

Question 9

PICK UP OBJECT FROM THE FLOOR FROM A STANDING POSITION: Pick up the shoe/slipper, which is placed in front of your feet.

Able to pick up slipper safely and easily

Able to pick up slipper but needs supervision

Unable to pick up but reaches 2-5 cm(1-2 inches) from slipper and keeps balance independently

Unable to pick up and needs supervision while trying

Unable to try/needs assist to keep from losing balance or falling

Question 10

TURNING TO LOOK BEHIND OVER LEFT AND RIGHT SHOULDERS WHILE STANDING: Turn to look directly behind you over toward the left shoulder. Repeat to the right. Examiner may pick an object to look at directly behind the subject to encourage a better twist turn.

Looks behind from both sides and weight shifts well

Looks behind one side only other side shows less weight shift

Turns sideways only but maintains balance

Needs supervision when turning

Needs assist to keep from losing balance or falling

Question 11

TURN 360 DEGREES: Turn completely around in a full circle. Pause. Then turn a full circle in the other direction.

Able to turn 360 degrees safely in 4 seconds or less

Able to turn 360 degrees safely one side only 4 seconds or less

Able to turn 360 degrees safely but slowly

Needs close supervision or verbal cuing

Needs assistance while turning

Question 12

PLACE ALTERNATE FOOT ON STEP OR STOOL WHILE STANDING UNSUPPORTED: Place each foot alternately on the step/stool. Continue until each foot has touched the step/stool four times.

Able to stand independently and safely and complete 8 steps in 20 seconds

Able to stand independently and complete 8 steps in > 20 seconds

Able to complete 4 steps without aid with supervision

Able to complete > 2 steps needs minimal assist

Needs assistance to keep from falling/unable to try

Question 13

STANDING UNSUPPORTED ONE FOOT IN FRONT: (DEMONSTRATE TO SUBJECT) Place one foot directly in front of the other. If you feel that you cannot place your foot directly in front, try to step far enough ahead that the heel of your forward foot is ahead of the toes of the other foot. (To score 3 points, the length of the step should exceed the length of the other foot and the width of the stance should approximate the subject’s normal stride width.)

Able to place foot tandem independently and hold 30 seconds

Able to place foot ahead independently and hold 30 seconds

Able to take small step independently and hold 30 seconds

Needs help to step but can hold 15 seconds

Loses balance while stepping or standing

Question 14

STANDING ON ONE LEG: Stand on one leg as long as you can without holding on.

Able to lift leg independently and hold > 10 seconds

Able to lift leg independently and hold 5-10 seconds

Able to lift leg independently and hold ≥ 3 seconds

Tries to lift leg unable to hold 3 seconds but remains standing independently.

Unable to try or needs assist to prevent fall

Your Berg Balance Test Results

Score Range	Fall Risk Level
0 to 20	High Fall Risk
21 to 40	Medium Fall Risk
41 to 56	Low Fall Risk

Additional Information

Equipment

Yardstick
One standard chair with arm rests
One standard chair without arm rests
Footstool or 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.

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