ABSTRACT
This chapter is a comprehensive reference manual providing information on the Barthel Index (BI), which is a clinician rating scale that aims to assess level of independence in mobility and self-care tasks and chart improvement over time. The BI was developed for people undergoing rehabilitation for neuromuscular and musculoskeletal disorders. The BI is very widely used with older people and people after stroke. A brief history of the instrument's development is provided, along with a description of item content and administration/scoring procedures. Psychometric properties are reviewed and a critical commentary is provided. Key references are cited and in most cases the actual scale is included, giving the reader easy access to the instrument.
