Balance Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment (BPOMA) of Tinetti

sitting balance

leans or slides in chair

0

leans in chair slightly

1

steady, safe

2

arising

unable without help

0

loses balance

0

able but uses arms to push off chair

1

pulls on device or person

1

requires more than 2 attempts

1

able to arise without use of arms in 1 attempt

2

immediate standing balance

unsteady, marked staggering, moves feet, marked trunk sway

0

grabs objects for support

0

begins to fall

0

steady but uses walker or cane

1

mild staggering but catches self without grabbing object or person

1

steady without walker or cane or other support

2

side-by-side standing balance

unsteady, marked staggering, moves feet, marked trunk sway

0

grabs objects for support

0

begins to fall

0

steady but wide stance (medial heels > 4 inches apart)

1

uses cane or other support

1

steady with feet side-by side without external support

2

nudged (see above)

begins to fall

0

staggers, grabs, but catches self

1

uses device

1

steady without device or support

2

standing with eyes closed

unsteady, marked staggering or trunk sway, moves feet

0

begins to fall

0

staggers with few foot movements but catches self

1

uses an assistive device

1

steady without external support

2

turning 360°

unsteady, grabs, staggers

0

steady but steps discontinuous

1

uses device

1

steady and steps continuous

2

sitting down

unable without assistance, unsafe (misjudges distance, falls into chair)

0

uses arms on chair/device

1

not a smooth motion

1

safe, smooth motion

2