Background. The balance error scoring system (BESS) is a brief, easily administered test of static balance. The purpose of this study is to develop normative data for this test. Study Design. Cross-sectional, descriptive, and cohort design. Methods. The sample was drawn from a population of clients taking part in a comprehensive preventive health screen at a multidisciplinary healthcare center. Community-dwelling adults aged 20–69 ( ) were administered the BESS within the context of a fitness evaluation. They did not have significant medical, neurological, or lower extremity problems that might have an adverse effect on balance. Results. There was a significant positive correlation between BESS scores and age ( ). BESS performance was similar for participants between the ages of 20 and 49 and significantly declined between ages 50 and 69. Men performed slightly better than women on the BESS. Women who were overweight performed significantly more poorly on the test compared to women who were not overweight ( ; Cohen's ). The BESS normative data are stratified by age and sex. Conclusions. These normative data provide a frame of reference for interpreting BESS performance in adults who sustain traumatic brain injuries and adults with diverse neurological or vestibular problems. 1. Introduction Problems with balance and postural stability can arise from injuries or diseases affecting the vestibular system and/or brain. Examples include stroke [1], Parkinson’s disease [2], multiple sclerosis [3], traumatic brain injury [4–10], blast exposure in the military [11], and sport-related concussion [12]. Blunt trauma to the head can cause persistent problems with dizziness and balance via a variety of vestibular system problems such as labyrinthine concussion, rupture of the round window membrane, delayed endolymphatic hydrops, and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo due to canalolithiasis [13]. The balance error scoring system (BESS; [10, 14–16]) is a rapid, relatively easy-to-administer, and inexpensive measure of static balance and postural stability. A combination of three stances (narrow double leg stance, single leg stance, and tandem stance) and footing surfaces (firm surface/floor or medium density foam) is used for the test. Iverson et al. [17] presented preliminary normative data for the BESS derived from community-dwelling adults ( ) between the ages of 20 and 69. The purpose of this study is to expand the normative reference data for this test for adults and older adults. 2. Methods 2.1. Participants Community-dwelling adults ( ) were administered the
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