How this calculator works
Enter the item scores from a Berg Balance Scale examination administered using its original instructions. The 14 tasks have different performance anchors; a value of 3 is not a generic rating that can be assigned without the item-specific protocol. This page totals recorded scores, rather than replacing the examination with a home checklist. Higher totals indicate better performance on the assessed tasks. Fall prediction and change thresholds vary with the population, so no universal risk bands or percentage risk are invented. The result is an estimate for information only and is not medical advice.
Formula
Berg total = Q1 + Q2 + ... + Q14, with each recorded item an integer from 0 to 4. Minimum 0; maximum 56.
Worked example
Fourteen items scored 4 total 56. Seven items scored 4 and seven scored 2 total 42.
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Frequently asked questions
Does the form administer the physical examination?
No. Use the published item-specific instructions and safety procedures with an appropriate examiner. Enter the resulting scores here.
Can I leave an untested item blank?
A complete total requires all 14 items. An untested item should not be treated as a known zero or an average.
Why is there no low, medium or high fall-risk label?
Those thresholds are not universal across patient groups. This page reports the original total without attaching a new prediction model.