Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale Online Calculator
Originally designed by Powell and Myers in 1995, the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale, often called the ABC Scale, measures how confident a patient feels in their balance while doing everyday activities. It is commonly used in vestibular rehabilitation, fall-risk assessment, and general balance care.
The questionnaire asks the patient to rate their confidence from 0% to 100% during activities such as walking around the house, going up and down stairs, reaching for an object, walking in a crowd, or walking on slippery surfaces. For each activity, 0% means no confidence and 100% means complete confidence. The total score is calculated by averaging the activity scores, giving the clinician an overall percentage of balance confidence.
Why use the ABC Scale?
The ABC Scale helps clinicians understand how a patient perceives their own balance confidence during real-world activities. This can provide useful context beyond objective balance testing alone. The scale may be helpful when evaluating patients with dizziness, imbalance, vestibular disorders, neurologic conditions, fall history, mobility limitations, or fear of falling. It can also be used to track change over time during rehabilitation.
Common clinical uses
Clinicians may use the ABC Scale to:
- Assess perceived balance confidence
- Identify activities that feel unsafe or difficult
- Support fall-risk screening and care planning
- Guide vestibular or balance rehabilitation goals
- Measure patient-reported change over time
- Document functional progress during treatment
ABC Scale Online Calculator
For each activity, choose how confident you are that you can do it without losing your balance or feeling unsteady. Choose a number from 0% to 100%. If you do not do the activity now, imagine how confident you would be if you had to do it. If you normally use a cane, walker, or help from another person, rate your confidence as if you were using that support.
Looking for a printable version?
Our team has redesigned the ABC Scale to be easier to read, calculate, and print out. You can request to download the Printable Activities-specific Balance Confidence PDF.