Barthel Index
A 10-item activities of daily living scale that measures functional independence.
By Claire White
- Clinician-administered or observer-rated; 5 to 10 minutes.
- 10 ADL items: feeding, bathing, grooming, dressing, bowel control, bladder control, toilet use, transfers, mobility, and stairs.
- Total 0 to 100; higher scores indicate greater independence.
- Score 60 or above generally indicates moderate independence; 100 indicates full independence.
What it measures
The Barthel Index scores 10 personal ADL tasks. Each item is rated on a two- or three-point scale reflecting independence, assistance needed, or dependence. Scores are weighted by clinical importance and sum to 100. The scale is widely used in stroke rehabilitation to determine care needs and track functional change.
What the result tells you
Total scores (0 to 100) reflect the degree of independence in daily life. A score of 100 indicates the person is fully independent in all 10 domains. Scores of 60 or above generally indicate the person can live somewhat independently. The Barthel is sensitive to change in rehabilitation and is used in trials, registries, and routine clinical care.
Used for
Evidence, psychometrics and provenance
Psychometrics
Reliability on a 0 to 1 scale. Higher indicates greater agreement.
References
- 1.Mahoney FI, Barthel DW. Functional evaluation: the Barthel ADL Index. Md State Med J. 1965;14:61-65.
- 2.Wade DT, Collin C. The Barthel ADL Index: a standard measure of physical disability? Int Disabil Stud. 1988;10(2):64-67.
This assessment uses a validated instrument and is reference information, not a diagnosis.