Table 1.
Overview of several widely used clinical assessments for balance function
Clinical assessment | Type of balance assessed through procedure | Scoring | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steady state | Anticipatory | Reactive | |||||
S | W | S | W | S | W | [S = Standing / W = Walking] | |
Romberg test [77] | X | - | - | - | - | - | Ability to stand with eyes closed compared to eyes opened: able/unable, or time (in seconds) position was maintained. |
One-leg stance test, or single leg support, or timed unipedal stance test [78] | X | - | - | - | - | - | Time in seconds until one-leg stand is ended, by: lowering the elevated foot on the floor, taking hands off the hip or touching the standing leg with the elevated foot. |
Functional reach test [79] | X | - | X | - | - | - | Maximum distance reached (from start) in centimeters. |
Lateral reach test [80] | X | - | X | - | - | - | Maximal lateral reach to the right and left (from start) in centimeters. |
Get Up and Go test [81] | - | - | X | X | - | - | Score from 1 (normal) to 5 (severely abnormal) based on perceived (ab) normality. |
Timed Up and Go test [82] | - | - | X | X | - | - | Time (in seconds) to complete task and score from 1 to 5 based on observer’s perception of risk of falling. |
Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA), or Tinetti test [83] | X | X | X | X | X | - | Score from 0 (unable or highly impaired) to 1 or 2 (independent) on multiple tasks, based on ability to perform task and need of support (balance), or quality of movements (gait). |
Berg Balance Test (BBT) [84] | X | - | X | - | - | - | Score from 0 (low) to 4 (high), based on ability to perform multiple separate tasks. |
Balance Evaluation Systems test (BESTest) [11] | X | X | X | X | X | - | Score from 0 (severe impairment) to 3 (no impairment) on multiple tasks, based on ability to perform task; some related to time or speed. |