How good is my balance? Take the test now and see how you measure up.
1: Standing on one leg: You should be able to stand on one leg for at least 30 seconds with minimal body sway.
2. Reaching: Stand by a wall (but do not touch the wall), raise the arm by the wall to shoulder height and reach forward as far as you can then measure the distance from start to end position. You should be able to reach at least 10 inches without moving your feet.
3. Turning: Stand and turn in 360 degrees in one direction. You should be able to complete a full turn safely in less than 4 seconds.
If you have difficulty with any of these tasks you should contact a physical therapist who can perform a full balance evaluation to determine if you are at a risk for a fall and would benefit from balance training.
