§ 01
Functional Movement
Clinical fitness assessment

Single Leg Balance (Eyes Open)

Assess static balance and proprioception with visual input.

Equipment

Stopwatch. Flat, firm surface.

The protocol
  1. 01Client stands on one leg with arms at sides and eyes open.
  2. 02The free foot is lifted slightly off the ground (not resting on the standing leg).
  3. 03Start the timer when the foot leaves the ground.
  4. 04Stop the timer when: the free foot touches the ground, the standing foot shifts, the arms move significantly from the sides, or the client reaches out for support.
  5. 05Record the time in seconds.
  6. 06Perform 3 attempts on each leg, record the best.
What to watch for
  • Client placing the free foot against the standing leg (like a tree pose) — keep it hovering.
  • Using excessive arm movement to maintain balance.
  • Not testing both sides — asymmetry >10% is notable.
Normative scoring

Age 20-49: >40s excellent, 25-40s good, 10-25s fair, <10s poor. Age 50-59: >35s excellent, 15-35s good, <15s fair. Age 60+: >25s good, 10-25s fair, <10s warrants further assessment.

Run it with GainPT

Run this test with branded client reports.

GainPT scores Single Leg Balance (Eyes Open) 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.