Printable Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale PDF
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
Access Printable ABC Scale
Complete the form below to download the redesigned ABC Scale PDF:
Looking for an online version?
Our design team has made improvements to the visual design of the standard questionnaire and we are providing this free of charge. View the online Activities-specific Balance Confidence Calculator which will calculate the score automatically for you.