Introduction to
TM
FallProof Balance Tests
Debbie Rose, Ph.D.
Co-Director, Center for Successful Aging
California State University, Fullerton
FallProofTM Screening and
Assessment Tools
 Fall Risk
• 8 Foot Up and Go
 Functional Limitations
• Fullerton Advanced Balance (FAB) Scale
• Berg Balance Scale (BBS)
• 50 Foot Walk at Preferred and Fast Speed
• “Walkie-Talkie” Test
FallProofTM Screening and
Assessment Tools
 Sensory
Impairments
• Modified version of the Clinical Test of Sensory
Interaction in Balance (M-CTSIB)
 Motor
Impairments
• Multidirectional Reach Test
FallProofTM Screening and
Assessment Tools
 Physical Impairments
• Senior Fitness Test Items – Chair Stand; Arm
Curl; Chair Sit-and-Reach; Scratch Test; 2Minute Step
 Fear-of-Falling
• Health/Activity Questionnaire
• Balance Efficacy Scale (Optional)
Fullerton Advanced Balance Scale
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Developed by Rose & Lucchese (2003).
Test demonstrates high test-retest reliability
(.95)
Inter-rater reliability is also high, ranging from
.94 to .97 when administered by experienced
clinicians.
Scale is comprised of 10 items designed to
measure multiple dimensions of balance.
Recommended for use with higher functioning
community-dwelling older adults only.
Fullerton Advanced Balance
Scale
Test requires little equipment
 Can be administered within 8 to 10 minutes
 Has operational definitions by which to
score each test item
 Assesses more dimensions of balance when
compared to the Berg Balance Scale
 Expect to be less prone to ceiling effects

Fullerton Advanced Balance
Scale
 Test
Items include:
• Standing with feet together, eyes closed
• Reaching forward to grasp object
• Turn 360 degrees
• Stepping over an obstacle
• Walking with feet in tandem position
• Standing on one foot
Fullerton Advanced Balance
Scale
 Test
Items include:
• Standing on foam, eyes closed.
• Two-footed Jump for Distance
• Walk with Head Turns
• Backward Perturbation
 Total
Score Possible: 40 Points
Balance Dimensions
 Sensory
reception and integration
• Items 1; 3; 7; 9
 Motor
coordination
• Items 2; 4; 5; 6; 8; 10
 Musculoskeletal
Integrity
• Items 4; 5; 6; 7; 8
Interpretation of Item Scores
 Possible
underlying Impairments?
• Item 1- Standing with feet together and
eyes closed.
Weak hip abductor/adductor
muscles
Poor use of somatosensory Cues
Poor Center of Gravity Control
Interpretation of Item Scores
 Possible
underlying Impairments?
• Item 8 – Two-footed jump for
distance.
Lower body muscle weakness
Poor Center of Gravity Control
Poor upper and lower body
coordination
Interpretation of Item Scores
 Possible
underlying Impairments?
• Item 9- Walk with Head Turns
Possible vestibular
impairment?
Poor use of vision
Poor dynamic COG control
Interpretation of Item Scores
 Possible
underlying Impairments?
• Item 10 – Unexpected Backward Release
Absent or ineffective use of step
strategy
Lower body weakness
(reduced power)
Poor Center of Gravity Control
Berg Balance Scale (BBS)
Developed by Berg in 1989
 Test comprised of 14 performance items
 High validity, test-retest and rater reliability
 Requires approximately 15 to 20 minutes to
administer
 Prone to ceiling effects when used with
community-dwelling older adults.

Berg Balance Scale
 Test
Items Include:
• Rising from a chair
• Standing independently for two minutes
• Seated balance (if unable to stand
independently)
• Sitting down in a chair
• Transfers between chairs
• Standing with eyes closed
Berg Balance Scale
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Test Items Include:
• Standing with feet together
• Leaning forward
• Picking object up from floor
• Turn to look over shoulders
• 360 degree turn
• Dynamic toe touching
• Tandem Stance
• Standing on one leg
Modified Version of BBS
 In
modified version of the test, the first
5 test items are deleted (Daschle et al.,
1987)
 High reliability and validity retained
with modified version.
 Total score reduced from 56 to 36
points
Interpretation of Item Scores
Possible impairments associated with low
Scores:
• Item 1 – lower and upper body weakness; poor
dynamic COG control; Abnormal weight
distribution.
• Item 2 – Poor gaze stabilization; lower body
weakness; abnormal weight distribution in
standing.
• Item 6 – Poor use of somatosensory inputs;
Visual dependency and/or fear-of-falling; Lower
body weakness.