The Berg Balance Scale is Reliable and Valid in the Telehealth Setting for People With Early-Stage Parkinson Disease

Background: Telehealth rehabilitation is increasing in prevalence for aging adults with Parkinson disease. It is unknown whether measures used to assess the impact of Parkinson disease are reliable and valid in the virtual environment. Methods: Nineteen individuals completed in-person and telehealth sessions. Construct validity and interrater reliability for the Berg Balance Scale were evaluated. Results: Construct validity showed a large relationship between the in-person and telehealth assessments. All raters had excellent interrater reliability in-person and moderate reliability virtually. Conclusion: The Berg Balance Scale is reliable, valid, and can be administered to people with early-stage Parkinson disease in the telehealth setting.