Tinetti Balance Assessment Calculator

Tinetti Balance Assessment Calculator for Geriatrics. No universal high/moderate/low fall-risk bands are assigned. NICE NG249 distinguishes useful functional assessment from unsupported individual fall prediction: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng249/chapter/Recommendations/.

For shared guidance on choosing a tool and documenting results, read the clinical calculator workflow.

How this calculator works

For the 28-point POMA version, total = balance + gait. A primary trial explicitly reports these two subscale ranges: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2637855/. The original instrument publication is identified at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3944402/.

When to use this calculator

Check the arithmetic in a physiotherapy or geriatric assessment. Keep both subscores visible so that an unchanged total does not hide a different pattern.

Inputs used

  • Externally completed balance subscore, integer 0-16
  • Externally completed gait subscore, integer 0-12, from the same assessment

Clinical interpretation

No universal high/moderate/low fall-risk bands are assigned. NICE NG249 distinguishes useful functional assessment from unsupported individual fall prediction: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng249/chapter/Recommendations/.

Worked example

Balance 12 and gait 8 give 20/28. At follow-up, balance 10 and gait 10 still give 20/28. The total is unchanged while the balance result is two points lower. A missing gait assessment must not be entered as zero to manufacture a complete score.

Limitations and safety notes

Use only matching original subscores; POMA variants are not interchangeable. The trial’s ranges were verified in indexed primary text, while direct PMC access returned a browser challenge. No movement tests, copied task anchors or permission grant are supplied.

Frequently asked questions

Can I enter a balance-only total of 16 as a complete POMA score?

No. A balance-only assessment lacks the gait subscore. The calculator requires both completed subscores and rejects balance above 16 or gait above 12.

References

  • https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2637855/
  • https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3944402/
  • https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng249/chapter/Recommendations/

Editorial review and citation methodology

Maintained by the Quick Medical Calculator Editorial Team. Content record date: September 9, 2026. A content date is not evidence of independent clinical review. Individual clinical sign-off is not recorded on this page.

  • Prefer original validation studies for scoring systems and prediction tools.
  • Use current specialty society guidance, transplant allocation policy, public health guidance, or regulator resources when they govern clinical use.
  • Include limitations and safety notes when a calculator is population-specific, context-dependent, or unsuitable as a standalone decision tool.

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