Balance describes your ability to keep your center of gravity over your base of support, despite interference from external forces. Physical therapists treat people with balance disorders that result from aging, injuries or neurological conditions. The balance assessment test precedes the therapeutic process. Assessment helps the therapist determine her client's susceptibility to injurious falls, and identify a proper course of treatment.
Home Living Assessment
The National Center for Patient Safety created the "Balance Assessment Handbook" for physical therapists. The book is based on successful physical therapy treatment performed at the falls clinic at the James A. Haley Tampa Veterans' Hospital in Virginia. Because this program focuses on seniors and people with severe balance problems, the handbook suggests a home-living assessment, which addresses issues such as potentially dangerous throw rugs, slippery bathtubs, poor lighting, clutter and electric cords and other obstructions. The therapist might evaluate these findings and weigh them against other assessments such as a patient's gait, posture and age, and make appropriate suggestions for change.
Berg Balance Basics
The Berg Balance Scale is a 14-task functional balance test that determines the patient's basic balance skills. The physical therapist assigns a rating of 0 to 4 for each skill. A rating of 4 designates complete self-sufficiency, whereas patients rated 0 require balance assistance. The test assesses the patient's ability to stand or sit without using his hands, the ability to stand upright for two minutes without support, and the ability to sit upright for two minutes without back support. These first four tasks are the most basic.
Advanced Skills
The Berg test advanced tasks require better balance skills. Therapists use their judgment to determine whether these assessments are appropriate for their clients. Tasks include standing unsupported with eyes closed for 10 seconds, standing with feet together -- creating a smaller base of support, for one minute, picking an object up from the floor from a standing position, standing on one foot, and placing alternate feet on a stool while standing in an unsupported position. Patients scoring below 45 for all Berg Test tasks have balance risks that make them susceptible to frequent falling, reports Cyber PT.
Get Up and Go
Speed has a direct correlation with balance, which is why people who lack confidence in their balance skills move slowly. The Timed Get Up and Go test assesses the patient's capacity for swift movement. The therapist places a chair against the wall, and a traffic cone about 8 feet away from the chair. When the therapist says "go," the patient gets up, walks around the cone and returns to the chair as quickly as possible. The first run is a trial run. The therapist records the second trial in the assessment tool. Scores are assessed according to the norms for the patient's age group, explains Olga Dreeben, author of the "Physical Therapy Handbook for PTA's."
