Barthel Index

The Barthel Index (BI) is one of the most widely used functional assessment tools measuring independence in activities of daily living. Developed by Florence I. Mahoney and Dorothea W. Barthel in 1965, the Barthel Index evaluates a patient's ability to perform ten essential self-care and mobility activities. Its longevity and widespread adoption across rehabilitation, geriatric, and acute care settings reflect its reliability, simplicity, and clinical utility for assessing functional status and predicting rehabilitation outcomes.