Nov 222 min read

Balance in Action: Unraveling the Secrets of the Berg Pediatric Balance Scale

The Pediatric Balance Scale is an essential tool in the assessment of balance skills in school-aged children . This scale, an adaptation of the well-known Berg Balance Scale , allows us to accurately and thoroughly measure the functional balance of children. It consists of 14 items covering a variety of situations and movements, each of which is scored on a scale ranging from 0 points, representing the lowest function, to 4 points, indicating the highest function. The maximum possible score on this scale is 56 points.

Target population for BERG pediatric scale

The Pediatric Balance Scale is designed for use with school-aged children who have mild to moderate motor disabilities.

The equipment used to perform the BERG scale includes:

Adjustable height bench.
Chair with backrest and armrests.
Stopwatch or clock with a second hand.
Adhesive tape (2.5 cm wide).
15cm high stool.
Whiteboard eraser.
Ruler or meter.
Small level.

Optional equipment that may be useful includes:

2 child-sized footprints
Mask
Brightly colored object at least 5 cm in size
Flashcards
5cm Hook Type Adhesive Velcro
2 Velcro loop strips 30 cm long.

Descriptions of items on the BERG scale

The scale is composed of 14 items.

From sitting to standing
Standing to sitting
Transfers
Standing without support
Sitting with your back unsupported and your feet flat on the floor
Standing without support and with eyes closed
Standing without support and with feet together
Standing without support and with one foot in front
Standing on one leg
360 degree rotation
Turn to look behind your shoulders to each side, while standing still
Pick up an object from the floor from a standing position
Place the alternate foot on the stool while standing without support
Reach forward with arm extended while standing

What does scientific evidence tell us?

Reliability

Reliability tests carried out with a sample of 20 children aged between 5 and 15 years with mild to moderate motor impairments demonstrated good test-retest reliability (ICC=0.998) and good inter-rater reliability (ICC=0.997).* 1

Validity

Validity tests performed with a sample of 30 children aged 4-10 years with spastic cerebral palsy in Levels I-III of the GMFCS showed a strong correlation between the Pediatric Balance Scale and the self-care (r=0.73, p<0.001) and mobility (r=0.82, p<0.001) dimensions of the Pediatric Disability Assessment Inventory (PEDI). *2-3

Validity tests performed with a sample of 23 children aged between 6 and 15 years with spastic cerebral palsy (hemiplegia or diplegia) showed a strong correlation (r=0.797, p<0.05) between the Pediatric Balance Scale and the Selective Lower Extremity Control Assessment. *4