Description

The Community Balance and Mobility Scale (CB&M) is an assessment tool used to evaluate balance and mobility in individuals with higher levels of functioning after injuries, particularly brain injuries or traumatic brain injuries. The scale is designed to measure the more demanding aspects of balance and mobility that are required for safe and independent participation in daily community activities.

Analysis and Use of Data

The CB&M is used to assess the functional abilities of individuals who have recovered from injuries but still face challenges with more complex mobility tasks. The data collected from the scale provide important insights into the individual’s ability to move and interact safely and independently within a community environment. The scale is primarily used with patients who have regained a significant level of mobility but continue to encounter difficulties.

Purpose

The purpose of the CB&M is to evaluate dynamic balance, mobility, and safety during participation in complex community activities, such as walking on uneven surfaces, climbing stairs, and changing direction while moving.

Scoring

The scale consists of 13 tasks, including fast walking, stairs, and other demanding balance scenarios. Each task is scored on a scale from 0 to 5, with a maximum total score of 96. Higher scores indicate better balance and mobility. The CB&M is useful for tracking rehabilitation progress and identifying areas that need further improvement.

Bibliography

Howe, J. A., Inness, E. L., Venturini, A., Williams, J. I., & Verrier, M. C. (2006). The Community Balance and Mobility Scale – A balance measure for individuals with traumatic brain injury. Clinical Rehabilitation, 20(10), 885-895.

Inness, E. L., Howe, J. A., Niechwiej-Szwedo, E., Jaglal, S. B., McIlroy, W. E., & Verrier, M. C. (2011). Measuring balance and mobility after traumatic brain injury: Validation of the Community Balance and Mobility Scale (CB&M). Physiotherapy Canada, 63(2), 199-208.