Berg Balance Scale Calculator

About this calculator

The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) is a widely used clinical assessment made up of 14 functional tasks — things like standing unsupported, reaching forward, turning 360 degrees, and standing on one leg — each scored from 0 to 4 based on how well the person performs it, for a maximum total of 56 points. Physical therapists, occupational therapists, and geriatricians use it to assess balance in older adults, stroke survivors, and people with neurological or musculoskeletal conditions.

The total score is typically interpreted against established cutoffs that translate into a fall-risk category — commonly grouped as low, medium, or high risk, with scores below roughly 45 flagging increased fall risk in community-dwelling older adults, and lower ranges corresponding to greater dependence on a mobility aid. This calculator interprets a total BBS score into its fall-risk category; it is a screening reference only and does not replace a clinician’s full assessment.