The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) is a functional measure
of balance developed to measure balance in the elderly and
the neurologically impaired individual in a clinical setting.
The focus of the BBS is performance, rather than an underlying
impairment of balance.8 Administration requires little
training, minimal equipment and only 15 to 20 minutes
to administer.8,9 The BBS is considered by some to be a gold
standard of the evaluation of balance performance with the
elderly.10 It may have potential to be used with a pediatric
population. Berg states, “. . .the scale may well apply to any
population with balance impairment, regardless of age.”8
Unlike other balance measures for children, the BBS emphasizes
function, and captures a wide range of functional
abilities. These features of the BBS make it an appropriate
measure to consider for use with a pediatric population