Outcome measure cut-off numbers

[Liping Li]

For practice exam 2:

92. Based on the information provided, which individual would be considered a high falls risk?
a. A 66-year-old male with a Berg Balance Scale score of 49
b. A 79-year-old male with a Dynamic Gait Index score of 20
c. An 82-year-old female with a Functional Gait Assessment score of 21
d. A 90-year-old female with a Timed Up and Go time of 12 seconds
Scores of 22 or less on the FGA indicate a falls risk. The other situations do not score below the falls risk cut-offs.

Less than 50/56 on Berg indicates risk of fall and less than 40/56 indicates 100% fall risk. Less than 23/30 on FGA indicates fall risk. So I think both a and c indicate patient have high risk of fall. Considering the ages of the patients and outcome measures (Berg for static balance and FGA for dynamic balance), I think choice A patient is more likely to fall compared to choice C patient. May I know why choice C would be considered a high falls risk instead of choice A?

[Chrissy Durrough Lugge]

Hi Liping,
Thanks for bringing this to my attention! This question was written when the cut-off for falls risk on the BBS was 45/56. I’ve updated the question to have one correct answer.

[bcasaday]

Where is it sited that the BBS <50 indicates fall risk? I have only ever seen 45 in the literature. Can you direct me to this information? Also is this information too new to be changed on the exam this year? Thanks!

[Chrissy Durrough Lugge]

Hi! The cut-off changed just in the past few years. The article that showed 50/56 to be the cut-off was published in 2017, but I feel like it has only recently been the generally accepted value. 50/56 is cited in the ANPT’s Core Outcome Measures CPG, so I think it is fair game on this year’s exam.

Here’s a link to the Core Outcome Measures CPG: https://www.neuropt.org/practice-resources/anpt-clinical-practice-guidelines/core-outcome-measures-cpg

And the BBS pocket guide that includes score interpretation and references: https://www.neuropt.org/docs/default-source/cpgs/core-outcome-measures/berg-balance-scale-pocket-guide-proof-8.pdf?sfvrsn=8fe25043_0

[bcasaday]

Wow! I totally missed that! Thanks!

[Sydney Dalton]

So we should go off of the <50 on the Berg as being the cut-off for fall risk?

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