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.

Balance is separated into types according to two aspects: static (standing) or dynamic (walking); and steady-state, anticipatory or reactive (as defined in the Introduction). Scoring of performance in each assessment is also briefly described. (For general reference [15, 85])