§ 01
Functional Independence Tests
Clinical fitness assessment

4-Stage Balance Test

Screen balance ability through progressively challenging stances.

Equipment

Stopwatch. Clear floor space. Spotter for safety.

The protocol
  1. 01Stage 1 — Feet Together: Stand with feet side by side, touching. Hold for 10 seconds.
  2. 02Stage 2 — Semi-Tandem: Place the heel of one foot alongside the big toe of the other. Hold for 10 seconds.
  3. 03Stage 3 — Tandem: Place one foot directly in front of the other, heel to toe. Hold for 10 seconds.
  4. 04Stage 4 — Single Leg: Stand on one leg. Hold for 10 seconds.
  5. 05Pass each stage if the client holds the full 10 seconds without moving their feet.
  6. 06Progress sequentially — if they fail a stage, do not attempt the next.
What to watch for
  • Arms flailing excessively — allow natural balance reactions but not grabbing supports.
  • Feet shifting position during the hold.
  • Not having a spotter close by for safety.
  • Allowing more than 10 seconds of rest between stages.
Normative scoring

4/4 stages passed: Good balance. 3/4: Adequate. 2/4: Mild impairment. 0-1/4: Significant impairment, high fall risk.

Run it with GainPT

Run this test with branded client reports.

GainPT scores 4-Stage Balance Test against published normative data and turns it into a clean, GainPT-branded PDF your client keeps. All 47 clinical tests, unlimited retests — free to start, no card required.