Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale
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Objective[edit | edit source]
Activities-specific balance confidence (ABC) scale is a structured questionnaire that measures an individual’s confidence during ambulatory activities without falling or experiencing a sense of unsteadiness. It was developed in 1995 by Powell and Myers, and consists of 16 questions gauging the individual's confidence while doing activities.
Intended Population[edit | edit source]
The ABC scale is reported to be an accurate measure to identify individuals with a fall risk in populations of stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, vestibular disorders, in elderly, and in other neurological conditions that can affect balance.
Method of Use[edit | edit source]
- Its a 16-item questionnaire where patients' rate their confidence while doing activities.
- Scoring from 0-100 (0 is no confidence and 100 is full confidence)
- Paper survey, 5-10 mins for administration.
- No Training required.
- Permission needs to be obtained before use from the authors.
Questionnaire[edit | edit source]
The ABC Scale has 16 questions that require the patient to rate his/her confidence that he/she will not lose balance or become unsteady while performing the following activities:
- Walking around the house
- Walking up or down stairs
- Bending over to pick up a slipper from the front of a closet floor
- Reaching for a small can off a shelf at eye level
- Standing on tiptoes and reaching for something above his/her head
- Standing on a chair to reach for something
- Sweeping the floor
- Walking outside the house to a car parked in the driveway
- Getting into or out of a car
- Walking across a parking lot to the mall
- Walking up or down a ramp
- Walking in a crowded mall where people rapidly walk past
- Being bumped into people as they walk through the mall
- Stepping on to or off an escalator while holding onto a railing
- Stepping onto or off an escalator while holding onto parcels (so that they are not able to hold the railing)
- Walking outside on icy sidewalks
Versions[edit | edit source]
Apart from the 16-item questionnaire, there are two other versions of the scale:
- The short ABC scale:
- ABC-6 : https://statepi.jhsph.edu/wihs/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/ABC6-1015.pdf
Evidence[edit | edit source]
Reliability[edit | edit source]
Validity[edit | edit source]
Responsiveness[edit | edit source]
Miscellaneous[edit | edit source]
German
Chinese
Shortened version of ABC
Stroke
LLA
