The credible data on damage from senior falls supports the opinion that falls are a major hazard. 25 million falls occur yearly in the US. These amounts to 2,500,000 visits to the ER and 700,000 visitors require admission to a hospital. Over 30,000 people die, 130,000 can no longer live independently, and another 140,000 will die within a year. This is SERIOUS. However, it is preventable with better balance. People with better balance have better mental function. People with greater flexibility have decreased arthritis.
The Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale measures activities and your confidence in maintaining your balance while doing them. Answer honestly, and if necessary, you can begin to improve your balance and avoid falls.
It can be a matter of life and death.
The Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale*
Administration:
The ABC can be self-administered or administered via personal or telephone interview. Larger typeset should be used for self-administration, while an enlarged version of the rating scale on an index card will facilitate in-person interviews. Regardless of the method of administration, each respondent should be asked about their understanding of the instructions and probed about difficulty answering specific items.
Instructions to Participants:
For each of the following, please indicate your level of confidence in doing the activity without losing your balance or becoming unsteady by choosing one of the percentage points on the scale form – 0% to 100%. If you do not currently do the activity in question, try to imagine how confident you would be if you had to do the activity. If you normally use a walking aid to do the activity or hold onto someone, rate your confidence while using these supports. If you have any questions about answering any of these items, please ask the administrator.
Instructions for Scoring:
The ABC is a 11-point scale, and ratings should consist of whole numbers (0-100) for each item. Total the ratings (possible range = 0 – 1600) and divide by 16 to get each subject’s ABC score. If a subject qualifies his/her response to items #2, #9, #11, #14 or #15 (different ratings for “up” vs. “down” or “onto” vs. “off”), solicit separate ratings and use the lowest confidence of the two (as this will limit the entire activity, for instance, the likelihood of using the stairs.)
*Powell, LE & Myers AM. The Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale. J Gerontol Med Sci 1995; 50(1): M28-34
The Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale*
For each of the following activities, please indicate your level of self-confidence by choosing a corresponding number from the following rating scale:
0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100%
no confidence completely confident
“How confident are you that you will not lose your balance or become unsteady when you…
- walk around the house? ____%
- walk up or downstairs? ____%
- bend over and pick up a slipper from the front of a closet floor ____%
- reach for a small can off a shelf at eye level? ____%
- stand on your tiptoes and reach for something above your head? ____%
- stand on a chair and reach for something? ____%
- sweep the floor? ____%
- walk outside the house to a car parked in the driveway? ____%
- get into or out of a car? ____%
- walk across a parking lot to the mall? ____%
- walk up or down a ramp? ____%
- walk in a crowded mall where people rapidly walk past you? ____%
- are bumped into by people as you walk through the mall?____%
- step onto or off an escalator while you are holding onto a railing? ____%
- step onto or off an escalator while holding onto parcels such that you cannot hold onto the railing? ____%
- walk outside on icy sidewalks? ____%
*Powell, LE & Myers AM. The Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale. J Gerontol Med Sci 1995; 50(1): M28-34