How Good Is My Balance?

Balance is a fundamental aspect of physical health, playing a vital role in mobility, coordination, and injury prevention. It refers to the body's ability to maintain stability and control movements while standing, walking, or performing daily tasks. Good balance enhances posture, reduces the risk of falls, and improves overall functional independence. It becomes especially important as we age, as balance issues can increase the likelihood of injuries. One widely used tool to assess balance is the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), a clinical measure designed to evaluate an individual’s static and dynamic balance abilities. It consists of 14 tasks that assess various aspects of balance, such as sitting, standing, turning, and reaching. Each task is scored from 0 to 4, with a maximum possible score of 56. A lower score indicates a higher risk of falls, while a higher score reflects better balance and stability. Below is the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) table, outlining the tasks and scoring criteria: