What the Berg Balance Scale measures
The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was developed by Katherine Berg and colleagues in 1989 as an objective, performance based measure of balance. It was first designed for older adults and is now used widely with people who have stroke, brain injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and other neurological or musculoskeletal conditions.
It looks mainly at static balance and controlled movement, the balance you need to stand, reach and turn safely in daily life.
The 14 tasks
- Sitting to standing, and standing to sitting
- Standing unsupported, and sitting unsupported
- Transfers between two chairs
- Standing with eyes closed, and standing with feet together
- Reaching forward with an outstretched arm
- Picking up an object from the floor
- Turning to look behind over each shoulder
- Turning a full circle
- Placing alternate feet on a step or stool
- Standing with one foot in front of the other
- Standing on one leg
How scoring works
Each task is scored from 0, unable or needing a lot of help, to 4, completed safely and independently within the time or distance set. The total ranges from 0 to 56.
Lower scores mean a higher risk of falling. Clinicians commonly group scores as 41 to 56 for low falls risk, 21 to 40 for medium risk and 20 or below for high risk, and a score under 45 is often used as a sign of increased falls risk. These bands are a guide only. A score should always be read alongside the person's falls history, environment, medicines and other assessments.
Equipment and time
The test needs simple equipment: two chairs, one with arm rests and one without, a ruler or yardstick, a step or footstool, and a stopwatch. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes, so it fits easily into a home visit or clinic session. Physiotherapists, exercise physiologists and occupational therapists all use it.
Using the Berg Balance Scale in NDIS reports
Falls risk is often central to NDIS decisions about assistive technology, home modifications, therapy and support worker hours. A Berg score gives the NDIA an objective, repeatable number to go with your clinical description. Useful ways to use it:
- Baseline and review scores to show progress, or decline in a progressive condition
- Linking a score to a specific recommendation, such as a walking frame, shower chair, rails or supervision during showering
- Explaining the real world risk in plain words, for example that the person cannot turn safely to reach a kitchen cupboard
- Supporting a request for ongoing physiotherapy or exercise physiology to maintain function
Limits to keep in mind
- Ceiling effects: active people may score near 56 yet still fall during walking, sport or on uneven ground
- It does not test walking balance, dual tasking or reactions to an unexpected push, so pair it with gait measures where these matter
- It is not designed for people who cannot stand, and is less useful for most children
- Fatigue, pain, medication timing and fear of falling can change scores from day to day
Funding and costs
There is no separate NDIS item for a balance test. It is claimed as part of the therapist's assessment time, usually from improved daily living skills, which is reduced by 10% when a plan is created, reassessed or renewed since 1 October 2026, or from Health and Wellbeing for exercise physiology. In 2026/27 the price limits are $183.99 an hour for physiotherapy and $161.99 for exercise physiology in most of Australia.