The Berg Balance Scale

Abstract

The Berg Balance Scale was developed in 1989 to measure balance in the elderly.1 The scale consists of 14 items, scored from 0 to 4, which are added to make a total score between 0 and 56; a higher score indicates better balance. The items vary in difficulty – from sitting in a chair to standing on one leg. The Berg Balance Scale takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete. It requires a chair, a stopwatch, a ruler and a step. Although the Berg Balance Scale was originally developed to measure balance in the elderly, it is now commonly used to measure balance in people with varying conditions and disabilities.