§ 01
Functional Independence Tests
Clinical fitness assessment

Functional Reach Test

Measure dynamic balance — how far a person can reach forward without losing balance.

Equipment

Wall-mounted ruler or tape measure fixed at shoulder height.

The protocol
  1. 01Client stands side-on to the wall, feet shoulder-width apart, weight evenly distributed.
  2. 02Raise the arm closest to the wall to 90 degrees (shoulder height), fist clenched.
  3. 03Note the starting position of the fist against the ruler.
  4. 04Client leans forward as far as possible without taking a step, lifting heels, or touching the wall.
  5. 05Note the end position of the fist.
  6. 06Functional reach = end position minus start position.
  7. 07Best of 3 attempts.
What to watch for
  • Stepping forward (invalidates the trial).
  • Rotating the trunk instead of reaching forward.
  • Heels lifting off the ground.
Normative scoring

≥25 cm: Low fall risk. 15-24 cm: Moderate fall risk. <15 cm: High fall risk. <7 cm: Significant fall risk requiring intervention.

Run it with GainPT

Run this test with branded client reports.

GainPT scores Functional Reach 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.