1 Before you use it
What it is
Stand beside a wall, arm raised to 90°, and reach as far forward as you can without stepping or losing balance. Measure the distance the fingertips travel.
When to reach for it
When you want a simple anticipatory-control measure in an older adult or a lumbar presentation. Low priority in a typical MSK student caseload.
Patterns it serves · 2
2 Giving it
Scoring
Distance in centimetres, mean of three trials after a practice. Feet stay planted; no stepping, no trunk rotation.
What it doesn’t measure
Reactive balance, or dynamic control. A person can reach well and still fall.
3 Reading the score
Interpreting it
Interpret against baseline. It is limited but cheap and repeatable.
Is the change real?
Student trap. Letting them take a step or rotate the trunk. Both inflate the distance and neither is the test.
Official source: null. We don't host the form.
This is a learning tool. It does not diagnose patients and does not replace your clinical educator.
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