Leverage Physical Therapy
Balance check
Three quick tests, a sturdy chair, a timer and a counter or wall to stand beside. Do each one, enter your numbers, and see how your balance and leg strength compare.
About you
Your tests
Stand barefoot or in flat shoes next to something sturdy you can grab. Stop any test if you feel unsafe.
1. 4-stage balance test
Hold each stance for up to 10 seconds, with no support, then move to the next. Stop at the first stance you can’t hold. Enter how many seconds you held each one (0 if you couldn’t start).
Stage 4: stand on one leg. Test each side.
2. 30-second sit to stand
Use a standard chair (about 17 inches / 43 cm high) against a wall. Arms crossed over your chest, stand fully up and sit back down as many times as you can in 30 seconds. Count only full stands.
3. Floor transfer
Try getting down to the floor and back up again. Only try this if you feel safe, with a sturdy chair or counter nearby and someone close by if you’re unsure. Choose the option that describes you.
Day to day
This is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. The 4-stage balance test and 30-second sit to stand follow the CDC STEADI fall-risk protocols, and the thresholds come from STEADI. The floor transfer is a simple functional screen scored from 1 (best) to 3. Chair stand norms start at age 60, so for younger adults the 60 to 64 benchmark is used as a minimum. Dizziness, numbness, a recent fall or any worry about safety is a reason to see a clinician, whatever your score.