Equipment/set-up: Two foam pads (dense enough to avoid bottoming out – recommend Airex) and a stopwatch required.
Starting Position: Patient stands with feet shoulder width apart and arms crossed over chest.
Protocol: A 30-second trial is timed using a stopwatch. Time is stopped during a trial and recorded if: a) patient deviates from initial crossed arm position, b) patient opens eyes during an “eyes closed” trial condition, or c) patient moves feet (takes a step) or requires manual assistance to prevent loss of balance. A trial is successful if the patient is capable of maintaining the starting position independently for a period of 30 seconds.