An overview of clinical gait, balance, and mobility assessments

Citation

McKeever T & Powell D (2025) An overview of clinical gait, balance, and mobility assessments. In: Stuart S & Morris R (eds.) Gait, Balance, and Mobility Analysis: Theoretical, Technical, and Clinical Applications. Elsevier, pp. 205-218. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-443-21484-4.00008-9

Abstract
Gait, balance, and mobility are often seen as core measures of a person’s function. Deficits in mobility, gait, or balance occur with age and clinical conditions that can pose significant challenges to individuals ability to perform their usual activities of daily living. Assessment of mobility, gait, and balance in clinical practice is often performed with standard pen and paper or stop watch tasks, such as the Timed Up And Go or Mini-BESTest, which are valid and reliable means to derive patient capabilities. This chapter will provide an overview of some commonly used clinical assessments for mobility, gait, and balance and will mention the progression towards digital assessment within future clinical practice.

Keywords
Gait analysis; postural balance; biomechanics; diagnostics; clinical assessment