How do you measure stability? A comprehensive guide to balance assessment

September 24, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in four older adults falls each year, with poor balance being a major contributing factor. So, how do you measure stability effectively and accurately to assess risk and track progress? This guide will explore the different methods.

Quick Summary

Stability is measured using a range of methods, from basic functional assessments like the Single-Leg Stance to advanced clinical tests such as the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS). Technological tools, including force plates and wearable sensors, also offer precise data on balance and postural control.

Key Points

Functional Tests: Simple, at-home tests like the Single-Leg Stance and Timed Up and Go (TUG) provide a quick, practical assessment of your balance.
Clinical Assessments: For more standardized and accurate results, clinical tests like the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) are performed by professionals.
Technological Methods: Advanced tools such as force plates and wearable sensors offer objective, data-driven measurements of postural sway and balance control.
Three Key Systems: Stability relies on the visual, somatosensory, and vestibular systems; a test may target one or more of these areas.
Context is Key: The best way to measure stability depends on the specific goal, whether for fall prevention, athletic performance, or general health screening.
Improvement is Possible: Regardless of your current level, exercises targeting core strength, proprioception, and coordination can significantly enhance your stability.

Understanding the Foundations of Stability

Stability, or balance, is a complex process controlled by three main sensory systems:

Vestibular System: Located in the inner ear, this system helps sense motion and head position relative to gravity.
Somatosensory System: Nerves in your skin, muscles, and joints provide information about your body's position and movement.
Visual System: Your eyes provide input about your position in space relative to your surroundings.

Assessing stability involves evaluating the combined efficiency of these systems. Measurements can range from simple functional movements to highly precise technological analyses.

Professional Clinical Assessments

For a comprehensive and clinical evaluation of stability, professionals like physical therapists or doctors may use specific standardized tests.

Functional Reach Test

This test measures how far a person can reach forward without losing their balance or moving their feet.

It's a straightforward way to gauge a person's risk of falling.
A shorter reach distance often correlates with a higher fall risk.

Romberg Test

Used to evaluate proprioception, this test assesses a patient's ability to maintain balance with their eyes closed.

The patient stands with their feet together, first with eyes open, then with eyes closed.
Excessive swaying or inability to maintain balance with eyes closed suggests a proprioceptive deficit.

Balance Error Scoring System (BESS)

This is a standardized assessment used in sports medicine and rehabilitation to evaluate postural stability.

It involves performing various stances (double-leg, single-leg, tandem) on firm and soft surfaces with eyes closed.
A professional counts 'errors' such as lifting hands off hips, opening eyes, or stepping out of position.

Simple At-Home and Functional Stability Tests

For a quick and easy self-assessment, several functional tests can be performed at home with minimal equipment.

Single-Leg Stance Test

This test is a simple but effective way to gauge balance.

How to perform:

Stand with your feet hip-width apart and your arms at your sides.
Lift one foot off the ground, bending your knee to a 90-degree angle.
Time how long you can hold this position without putting your foot down, touching the other leg, or moving your arms.
Repeat with the other leg.

What it means: A healthy adult should be able to stand on one leg for at least 30 seconds. Shorter times may indicate a need for improvement.

Timed Up and Go (TUG) Test

This test assesses mobility, balance, and fall risk by measuring the time it takes for a person to stand up, walk a short distance, turn around, and sit back down.

It’s a valuable tool for assessing functional mobility, especially in older adults.

Tandem Walk Test

Also known as the 'heel-to-toe walk,' this test is often used to assess stability and coordination.

Walking in a straight line, placing the heel of one foot directly in front of the toes of the other, can highlight coordination issues.

Advanced Technological Measurement

Beyond simple observation, technology offers more precise and objective ways to quantify stability.

Force Plates

Force plates are advanced platforms that measure the ground reaction forces and moments generated by a person standing or moving on them.

They provide detailed, quantitative data on postural sway and center of pressure (COP).
This is often used in research and high-level athletic training.

Wearable Sensors

Small, wearable sensors (like accelerometers and gyroscopes) can track movement and posture in real-time.

They provide insight into daily activity, gait patterns, and balance over time.
This technology is increasingly used in rehabilitation and telemedicine.

Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP)

This is a more sophisticated clinical tool that challenges a person's balance systems in a controlled environment.

The patient stands on a platform that can move, and a surrounding visual screen may also move.
It helps differentiate between vestibular, somatosensory, and visual deficits affecting balance.

Comparing Stability Measurement Methods


Method	Cost	Accuracy	Required Equipment	Best For
Single-Leg Stance	Free	Low (subjective)	Timer	Quick self-assessment
Romberg Test	Low	Medium	None	Assessing proprioception
BESS Test	Medium	High	Soft surface	Concussion screening, athletic training
TUG Test	Free	Medium	Chair, stopwatch, 3m space	Assessing mobility in older adults
Force Plate	Very High	Very High (objective)	Force plate	Research, high-performance sports
Wearable Sensor	Medium-High	High	Wearable device, software	Long-term tracking, telehealth
CDP	Very High	Very High (clinical)	CDP system	Clinical diagnosis, specialized rehab

Improving Your Stability

Regardless of how you measure stability, consistent practice is key to improvement. Exercise programs can help train your vestibular, somatosensory, and visual systems. Some exercises include single-leg stands, tai chi, yoga, and walking on uneven surfaces. For more resources on preventing falls and improving balance, the CDC offers valuable information.

Conclusion

Measuring stability is not a one-size-fits-all process. The appropriate method depends on your goal, whether it's a quick personal check, a clinical evaluation, or advanced athletic analysis. From simple functional tests to state-of-the-art technology, understanding your balance is a crucial step towards preventing injury and maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle. Regularly assessing your stability can provide valuable feedback on your progress and help you take proactive steps to improve your balance and overall well-being.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you can perform simple functional tests like the Single-Leg Stance and Timed Up and Go (TUG) at home to get a good idea of your stability. However, for a more accurate and comprehensive assessment, especially if you have concerns about your balance, it is best to consult a healthcare professional who can perform standardized clinical tests.

For athletes, a combination of clinical and technological methods is often best. The Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) is a standard test for assessing postural stability, particularly in concussion screening. Additionally, force plates can provide objective, high-precision data for analyzing an athlete's balance and identifying subtle deficits.

Technology offers objective and highly precise measurement. Force plates quantify postural sway and center of pressure, while wearable sensors track movement and posture over time. These tools can provide deeper insights than traditional observation-based tests, which is useful for research and advanced athletic training.

While results vary with age, a healthy adult should generally be able to stand on one leg for at least 30 seconds. Shorter hold times, especially when significantly less than your age group average, could indicate a need for improved stability.

Yes, core strength is a critical component of stability. A strong core provides a stable base for the rest of the body to move, so deficiencies in core strength can negatively impact balance performance. Many stability exercises, such as planks, also serve to strengthen the core.

In older adults, stability is often measured using functional tests that assess mobility and fall risk. The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test is a common assessment. Another effective method is the Functional Reach Test, which measures how far a person can reach forward without losing balance, as shorter distances are correlated with higher fall risk.

Proprioception is the body's sense of its own position and movement in space. It is one of the three primary systems that contribute to stability. If your proprioceptive system is impaired, your brain receives less accurate information about where your limbs are, which can significantly affect your balance. The Romberg Test is a simple way to screen for proprioceptive deficits.