The Berg Balance Scale is a standardized assessment tool for balance. A common strategy for choosing balance exercises is to examine items with low scores (on the standardized assessment tool), and pick exercises that simulate those items. For example, if patient scored low on Berg Item 8 (reaching forward with outstretched arm while standing), exercises with reaches in front of the body would be selected. Below is a list of exercises from the Haas Balance Book: 100+ Exercises for PTs and OTs that correlate to individual elements on the Berg.
- Sitting to standing
- Exercise 26: Sit-to-Stands
- Exercise 72: Randomized Sit-to-Stands
- Standing unsupported
- Exercise 1: Static Standing
- Exercise 34: Standing + Hand Support
- Exercise 35: Standing + Vertical Hand Support
- Exercise 36: Standing + Unstable Hand Support
- Exercise 37: Standing + Single Hand Support
- Exercise 38: Standing + Placing Stacked Cones
- Exercise 39: Standing + Passing/Placing Rings
- Sitting with back unsupported but feet supported on floor or on a stool
- Book does not include sitting balance exercises
- Standing to sitting
- Exercise 26: Sit-to-Stands
- Exercise 72: Randomized Sit-to-Stands
- Transfers
- Exercise 26: Sit-to-Stands
- Exercise 60: Pivoting Drills
- Exercise 72: Randomized Sit-to-Stands
- Exercise 78: Randomized Turning
- Standing unsupported with eyes closed
- Exercise 4: Standing + Eyes Closed
- Standing unsupported with feet together
- Exercise 16: Feet Together
- Reaching forward with outstretched arm while standing
- Exercise 7: Weight Shifting - Forward & Back
- Exercise 8: Weight Shifting – Hip Swivels
- Exercise 9: Weight Shifting – Ankle Strategy
- Exercise 12: Standing + Reaching Up
- Exercise 13: Standing + Reaching Overhead
- Exercise 14: Standing + Far Reach
- Exercise 71: Randomized Reaching
- Exercise 88: Placing Games
- Exercise 89: Scrambler
- Exercise 90: Unscrambler
- Exercise 91: Match Maker
- Exercise 92: Line Up
- Exercise 93: Simon – Upper Extremity
- Exercise 95: Cashier
- Exercise 96: Copy Cat
- Exercise 97: Chasing the Pin
- Pick up object from the floor from a standing position
- Exercise 8: Weight Shifting – Hip Swivels
- Exercise 11: Standing + Reaching Down
- Exercise 71: Randomized Reaching
- Exercise 88: Placing Games
- Exercise 89: Scrambler
- Exercise 90: Unscrambler
- Exercise 91: Match Maker
- Exercise 92: Line Up
- Exercise 93: Simon – Upper Extremity
- Exercise 95: Cashier
- Exercise 96: Copy Cat
- Exercise 97: Chasing the Pin
- Turning to look behind over left and right shoulders while standing
- Exercise 6: Weight Shifting-Rotations
- Exercise 15: Standing + Reaching Across Midline
- Turn 360 degrees
- Exercise 60: Pivoting Drills
- Exercise 78: Randomized Turning
- Placing alternate foot on step or stool while standing unsupported
- Exercise 55: Stepping Drills
- Exercise 56: Tapping Drills
- Exercise 57: Stepping On/Off Obstacles
- Exercise 61: Combo: Progressively Higher Hurdles
- Exercise 73: Randomized Stepping
- Exercise 74: Randomized Stepping On/Off Obstacles
- Exercise 75: Randomized Stepping + Clock Yourself
- Exercise 77: Randomized Tapping
- Standing unsupported one foot in front
- Exercise 17: Split Stance
- Exercise 18: Tandem Stance (modify if needed)
- Standing on one leg
- Exercise 19: Single-Leg Stance (modify if needed)