Tinetti Assessment Tool

Description

Population

Adult population, elderly patients

Description

The Tinetti Assessment Tool is a simple, easily administered test that
measures a patient's gait and balance. The test is scored on the
patient's ability to perform specific tasks.

Mode of
Administration

The Tinetti Assessment Tool is a task performance exam.

Time to Complete

10 to 15 minutes

Time to Score

Time to score is included in time to complete.

Scoring

Scoring of the Tinetti Assessment Tool is done on a three point
ordinal scale with a range of 0 to 2. A score of 0 represents the most
impairment, while a 2 would represent independence of the patient.
The individual scores are then combined to form three measures: an
overall gait assessment score, an overall balance assessment score,
and a gait and balance score.

Interpretation

The maximum score for the gait component is 12 points. The
maximum score for the balance component is 16 points. The maxi-
mum total score is 28 points. In general, patients who score below 19
are at a high risk for falls. Patients who score in the range of 19-24
indicate that the patient

has a risk for falls.

Reliability

Interrater reliability was measured in a study of 15 patients by having
a physician and a nurse test the patients at the same time. Agreement
was found on over 85% of the items and the items that differed never
did so by more than 10%. These results indicate that the Tinetti
Assessment Tool has good interrater reliability.

Validity

Not reported

Tinnetti Gait and Balance Evaluation

BALANCE

Instructions: Person is seated in hard armless chair. The following maneuvers are
tested.
1. Sitting balance

Leans or slides in chair

= 0

Steady, safe

= 1 _____

2. Rising

Unable without hel p

= 0

Able but uses arms to help

= 1

Able without use of arms

= 2 _____

3. Attempts to rise

Unable without help

= 0

Able but requires more than one attempt

= 1

Able to arise with one attempt

= 2 _____

4. Immediate standing

Unsteady (staggers, moves feet, has marked

Balance (first 5 sec)

trunk sway)

= 0

Steady but uses walker or cane or grabs

other objects for support

= 1

Steady without walker or cane or other

support

= 2 _____

5. Standing balance

Unsteady

= 0

Steady but bas wide stance (medial heels

more than 4 in. apart) or uses cane, walker

or other support

= 1

Has narrow stance without support

= 2 _____

6. Nudged (person stands

Begins to fall

= 0

with feet as close

Staggers, grabs, but catches self

= 1

together as possible,

Steady

= 2 _____

examiner pushes lightly
on person’s sternum with
palm of hand 3 times)

7. Eyes closed (same

Unsteady

= 0

position as in #6)

Steady

= 1 _____

8. Turning 360°

Discontinuous steps

= 0

Continuous steps

= 1 _____

Unsteady (grabs, staggers)

= 0

Steady

= 1 _____

9. Sitting down

Unsafe (misjudged distance, falls into chair) = 0

Uses arms or not a smooth motion

= 1

Safe, smooth motion

= 2 _____

Balance Score: _____/16

GAIT

Instructions: Person stands with examiner; walks down hallway or across room, first at
usual pace, then back at rapid but safe pace (using usual walking aid such as cane or
walker).
10. Initiation of gait

Any hesitancy or multiple attempts to

(immediately after told

start

= 0

to go)

No hesitancy

= 1 _____

11. Step length and height a. Right swing foot does not pass left stance

foot with step

= 0

Passes left stance foot

= 1

Right foot does not clear floor completely

with step

= 0

Right foot completely clears floor

= 1 _____

b. Left swing foot does not pass right stance

foot with step

= 0

Passes right stance foot

= 1

Left foot does not clear floor completely

with step

= 0

Left foot completely clears floor

= 1 _____

12. Step symmetry

Right and left step length do not appear

equal

= 0

Right and left step appear equal

= 1 _____

13. Step continuity

Stopping or discontinuity between steps

= 0

Steps appear continuous

= 1 _____

14. Path (estimate in

Marked deviation

= 0

relation to 12 in. floor

Mild or moderate deviation or uses walking

tiles; observe excursion

aid

= 1

of one foot over about

Straight without walking aid

= 2 _____

10 ft. of the course)

15. Trunk

Has marked sway or uses walking aid

= 0

No sway but has flexion of knees or back

or spreads arms out while walking

= 1

No sway, no flexion, no use of arms, and no

use of walking aid

= 2 _____

16. Walking stance

Heels apart

= 0

Heels almost touch while walking

= 1 _____

Gait score: _____/12

Total score:_____/28

A score below 26 usually indicates a problem; the lower the score, the greater the

problem. A score of 19 indicates a five - fold increased risk of falls

Modified from Tinnetti M. (1986) Performance -oriented assessment of mobility problems
in elderly patients. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 34:119-126




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