The Single-Leg Balance Eyes Open Test measures how long a client can stand on one leg while keeping their eyes open. It is closely related to the Unipedal Stance Test, which has published normative values for eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions across age groups and sex.
Single-leg stance is a simple and useful screen of static balance. It provides information about postural control, lower-limb stability and age-related balance changes.
Test name: Single-Leg Balance Eyes Open
Category: Static balance
Primary score: Time held in seconds
Best use: Baseline balance and side-to-side comparison
Key limitation: Ceiling effects are common in young or athletic clients.
The client stands on one leg with eyes open for as long as possible, up to a selected time cap.
Used to assess static balance, side-to-side differences, baseline performance, fall-risk context in older adults and progress over time.
It may reflect visual, vestibular and somatosensory contributions to balance, lower-limb control, confidence and postural steadiness.
Useful for older adults, athletes, general fitness clients, balance monitoring and lower-limb assessment.
Flat surface
Stopwatch or Measurz stopwatch
Optional Measurz AR measurement for setup documentation
Optional Measurz inclinometer for related ROM
Optional MAT tools for related lower-limb strength testing
Measurz platform for time, side, symptoms and retest comparison
Client stands upright with hands on hips or arms standardised.
Client lifts one foot from the floor.
Start timing once the foot lifts.
Stop when the foot touches down, stance foot moves, arms change if restricted, support is used or the time cap is reached.
Repeat both sides.
Record time in seconds for each side, time cap, stance side, footwear, surface, arm position and reason for stopping.
Norms vary by age. Unipedal stance performance generally declines with age, and published normative values are available for eyes-open and eyes-closed testing.
Practical field guide only:
30–60 seconds: strong static balance for many adults
10–30 seconds: moderate
Under 10 seconds: worth monitoring, especially in older adults or if side-to-side difference is large
Under 5 seconds in older adults may be clinically relevant in fall-risk context, but should not be used alone.
The unipedal stance test is widely used and has normative evidence, but reliability depends on time cap, number of trials, stance rules and testing surface.
Common errors include inconsistent arm position, different time caps, testing on different surfaces, not recording footwear, allowing foot movement and overinterpreting a single trial.
Useful for balance screening, older adult monitoring, lower-limb assessment, sport profiling and tracking progress.
Record side, time, time cap, eyes condition, surface, footwear, arm position, symptoms, compensations and retest date.
What does it measure? Static single-leg balance.
Should both sides be tested? Yes.
What is a good score? 30–60 seconds is strong for many adults, depending on age and protocol.
Is it enough for athletes? Often no; dynamic tests may be needed.
Simple static balance test.
Useful for baseline and retest.
Age affects performance.
Standardise time cap and rules.
Measurz can track side and time.
Springer, B. A., Marin, R., Cyhan, T., Roberts, H., & Gill, N. W. (2007). Normative values for the Unipedal Stance Test with eyes open and closed. Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy, 30(1), 8–15.
Michikawa, T., et al. (2009). One-leg standing test for elderly populations. Related fall-risk evidence.
