BALANCE & STABILITY PROTOCOL
Functional Reach Pro (FRT)
Standardized Forward Reach & Postural Control Analysis
Enter measurements to generate
Fall Risk Stratification
The "High Risk" Threshold
Research by Duncan et al. established that a forward reach of **less than 6 inches (15 cm)** is predictive of a 4x higher fall risk in the subsequent 6 months for community-dwelling elderly adults.
Functional Reach Protocol (Duncan et al.)
- Alignment: Patient stands near a wall with the dominant arm raised to 90° flexion and fist closed.
- Zeroing: Record the position of the 3rd metacarpal head (the knuckle) on the yardstick.
- Execution: Patient reaches as far forward as possible without taking a step or lifting heels.
- Recording: The difference between the start and end point is the Functional Reach score. Average of 3 trials is recommended.
Age-Matched Normative Values (Inches)
| Age Group | Men (Avg) | Women (Avg) |
|---|---|---|
| 20-40 years | 16.7" | 14.6" |
| 41-60 years | 14.9" | 13.8" |
| 61-70 years | 13.2" | 10.5" |
| 71-80 years | 10.1" | 10.5" |
Expert FAQs
What is the MCID for Functional Reach?
The Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) is approximately **3.0 to 5.0 cm**. Any improvement smaller than this may be due to measurement error rather than actual clinical progress.
Clinical Bibliography
- 1. Duncan PW, Weiner DK, Chandler J, Studenski S. Functional reach: a new clinical measure of balance. J Gerontol. 1990;45(6):M192-M197.
- 2. Weiner DK, et al. Functional reach: predictive validity for falls. J Gerontol. 1992.
Dr. Nikhil Mahajan, PT
CLINICAL RESOURCE