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Functional Reach Test
Measure difference between starting position (arm at 90°) and maximal forward reach along a yardstick without taking a step.
Reach Distance
Guidelines & Evidence
Clinical Details
Section 1
When to Use
When to Use
Rapid screening of dynamic balance in older adults.
Predicting fall risk in community-dwelling and frail older adults.
Monitoring response to balance-focused physiotherapy over time.
Simplicity
The Functional Reach Test requires only a yardstick (or measuring tape) attached to a wall. It measures the limits of stability in the anterior-posterior plane, a key component of preventing forward falls.
Section 2
Formula & Logic
Measurement Protocol
Risk Stratification (Cutoffs)
< 6 inches (< 15 cm)
High fall risk (predicts future falls in community-dwelling older adults)
6 - 10 inches (15 - 25 cm)
Moderate fall risk
> 10 inches (> 25 cm)
Low fall risk / normal limit of stability
Section 3
Pearls/Pitfalls
Limitations
The test only measures balance in one dimension (forward). It does not assess lateral stability or reactive balance. It should be used as a quick screen, often combined with the TUG or Berg Balance Scale for comprehensive assessment.
Section 4
Next Steps
Management
Section 5
Evidence Appraisal
Primary Reference
Functional reach: a new clinical measure of balance.
Duncan PW et al. • J Gerontol.. 1990;45(6):M192-7. Original validation establishing normative data and establishing <6 inches as predictive of falls.
Section 6
Origins
Pamela Duncan
Developed in 1990 by Pamela Duncan and colleagues as a quick, clinical measure of the "margin of stability." It was designed to provide an objective, continuous measure of balance that was faster and required less equipment than complex force-plate analyses.
