Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) Score Sheet & Fall-Risk Cut-offs

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⚠️ For clinicians. Not a self-check.

The FGA is given and scored by a physical therapist or trained clinician who walks with the patient.
Several items (eyes closed, walking backwards, narrow base, stairs) can cause a loss of balance. Guard closely and use a gait belt if your setting calls for one.
Stop an item if the patient is unsafe, dizzy or in pain. An item that needs physical assistance scores 0.

Score all 10 items from 0 to 3. The total out of 30 updates as you go. When you’re done, print it or save it as a PDF. It takes about 5 to 10 minutes for an experienced clinician and under 20 minutes for a new one.

Equipment and scoring rules

⏱️ Stopwatch

📏 A 20 ft (6 m) walkway marked 12 in (30.48 cm) wide

📦 Obstacle 9 in (22.86 cm) high: two stacked shoe boxes

🪜 Steps 7¾–9 in high with rails on both sides

Give the instructions as written. On the original form: “Mark the highest category that applies.”
The patient walks without physical help from another person. If an item needs assistance, score it 0.
Many items name the score for using an assistive device. If an item doesn’t, and the patient needs the device to do it, score that item 0. An orthosis is not counted as an assistive device. Retest with the same device.
Walk at least a half step behind the patient, not in front or right beside, so you don’t pace them.
If the patient can’t walk but has goals and capacity to improve balance, document a baseline score of 0.
If any item is skipped (for example, no stairs), the cut-offs and norms below don’t apply to the partial score.

Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) · Holsman Physical Therapy · holsmanwellness.com/tools/functional-gait-assessment/

Name: ______________________Date: ______________Rater: ______________________Assistive device: ______________

Patient group (for cut-offs)

Age group (for norms, optional)

Prior FGA total (optional)

1. Gait level surface

Instructions: “Walk at your normal speed from here to the next mark (6 m [20 ft]).”

3Normal—Walks 6 m (20 ft) in less than 5.5 seconds, no assistive devices, good speed, no evidence for imbalance, normal gait pattern, deviates no more than 15.24 cm (6 in) outside of the 30.48-cm (12-in) walkway width.2Mild impairment—Walks 6 m (20 ft) in less than 7 seconds but greater than 5.5 seconds, uses assistive device, slower speed, mild gait deviations, or deviates 15.24–25.4 cm (6–10 in) outside of the 30.48-cm (12-in) walkway width.1Moderate impairment—Walks 6 m (20 ft), slow speed, abnormal gait pattern, evidence for imbalance, or deviates 25.4–38.1 cm (10–15 in) outside of the 30.48-cm (12-in) walkway width. Requires more than 7 seconds to ambulate 6 m (20 ft).0Severe impairment—Cannot walk 6 m (20 ft) without assistance, severe gait deviations or imbalance, deviates greater than 38.1 cm (15 in) outside of the 30.48-cm (12-in) walkway width or reaches and touches the wall.

2. Change in gait speed

Instructions: “Begin walking at your normal pace (for 1.5 m [5 ft]). When I tell you “go,” walk as fast as you can (for 1.5 m [5 ft]). When I tell you “slow,” walk as slowly as you can (for 1.5 m [5 ft]).”

3Normal—Able to smoothly change walking speed without loss of balance or gait deviation. Shows a significant difference in walking speeds between normal, fast, and slow speeds. Deviates no more than 15.24 cm (6 in) outside of the 30.48-cm (12-in) walkway width.2Mild impairment—Is able to change speed but demonstrates mild gait deviations, deviates 15.24–25.4 cm (6–10 in) outside of the 30.48-cm (12-in) walkway width, or no gait deviations but unable to achieve a significant change in velocity, or uses an assistive device.1Moderate impairment—Makes only minor adjustments to walking speed, or accomplishes a change in speed with significant gait deviations, deviates 25.4–38.1 cm (10–15 in) outside the 30.48-cm (12-in) walkway width, or changes speed but loses balance but is able to recover and continue walking.0Severe impairment—Cannot change speeds, deviates greater than 38.1 cm (15 in) outside 30.48-cm (12-in) walkway width, or loses balance and has to reach for wall or be caught.

3. Gait with horizontal head turns

Instructions: “Walk from here to the next mark 6 m (20 ft) away. Begin walking at your normal pace. Keep walking straight; after 3 steps, turn your head to the right and keep walking straight while looking to the right. After 3 more steps, turn your head to the left and keep walking straight while looking left. Continue alternating looking right and left every 3 steps until you have completed 2 repetitions in each direction.”

3Normal—Performs head turns smoothly with no change in gait. Deviates no more than 15.24 cm (6 in) outside 30.48-cm (12-in) walkway width.2Mild impairment—Performs head turns smoothly with slight change in gait velocity (eg, minor disruption to smooth gait path), deviates 15.24–25.4 cm (6–10 in) outside 30.48-cm (12-in) walkway width, or uses an assistive device.1Moderate impairment—Performs head turns with moderate change in gait velocity, slows down, deviates 25.4–38.1 cm (10–15 in) outside 30.48-cm (12-in) walkway width but recovers, can continue to walk.0Severe impairment—Performs task with severe disruption of gait (eg, staggers 38.1 cm [15 in] outside 30.48-cm (12-in) walkway width, loses balance, stops, or reaches for wall).

4. Gait with vertical head turns

Instructions: “Walk from here to the next mark (6 m [20 ft]). Begin walking at your normal pace. Keep walking straight; after 3 steps, tip your head up and keep walking straight while looking up. After 3 more steps, tip your head down, keep walking straight while looking down. Continue alternating looking up and down every 3 steps until you have completed 2 repetitions in each direction.”

3Normal—Performs head turns with no change in gait. Deviates no more than 15.24 cm (6 in) outside 30.48-cm (12-in) walkway width.2Mild impairment—Performs task with slight change in gait velocity (eg, minor disruption to smooth gait path), deviates 15.24–25.4 cm (6–10 in) outside 30.48-cm (12-in) walkway width or uses assistive device.1Moderate impairment—Performs task with moderate change in gait velocity, slows down, deviates 25.4–38.1 cm (10–15 in) outside 30.48-cm (12-in) walkway width but recovers, can continue to walk.0Severe impairment—Performs task with severe disruption of gait (eg, staggers 38.1 cm [15 in] outside 30.48-cm (12-in) walkway width, loses balance, stops, reaches for wall).

5. Gait and pivot turn

Instructions: “Begin with walking at your normal pace. When I tell you, “turn and stop,” turn as quickly as you can to face the opposite direction and stop.”

3Normal—Pivot turns safely within 3 seconds and stops quickly with no loss of balance.2Mild impairment—Pivot turns safely in >3 seconds and stops with no loss of balance, or pivot turns safely within 3 seconds and stops with mild imbalance, requires small steps to catch balance.1Moderate impairment—Turns slowly, requires verbal cueing, or requires several small steps to catch balance following turn and stop.0Severe impairment—Cannot turn safely, requires assistance to turn and stop.

6. Step over obstacle

Instructions: “Begin walking at your normal speed. When you come to the shoe box, step over it, not around it, and keep walking.”

3Normal—Is able to step over 2 stacked shoe boxes taped together (22.86 cm [9 in] total height) without changing gait speed; no evidence of imbalance.2Mild impairment—Is able to step over one shoe box (11.43 cm [4.5 in] total height) without changing gait speed; no evidence of imbalance.1Moderate impairment—Is able to step over one shoe box (11.43 cm [4.5 in] total height) but must slow down and adjust steps to clear box safely. May require verbal cueing.0Severe impairment—Cannot perform without assistance.

7. Gait with narrow base of support

Instructions: “Walk on the floor with arms folded across the chest, feet aligned heel to toe in tandem for a distance of 3.6 m [12 ft]. The number of steps taken in a straight line are counted for a maximum of 10 steps.”

3Normal—Is able to ambulate for 10 steps heel to toe with no staggering.2Mild impairment—Ambulates 7–9 steps.1Moderate impairment—Ambulates 4–7 steps.0Severe impairment—Ambulates less than 4 steps heel to toe or cannot perform without assistance.

8. Gait with eyes closed

Instructions: “Walk at your normal speed from here to the next mark (6 m [20 ft]) with your eyes closed.”

3Normal—Walks 6 m (20 ft), no assistive devices, good speed, no evidence of imbalance, normal gait pattern, deviates no more than 15.24 cm (6 in) outside 30.48-cm (12-in) walkway width. Ambulates 6 m (20 ft) in less than 7 seconds.2Mild impairment—Walks 6 m (20 ft), uses assistive device, slower speed, mild gait deviations, deviates 15.24–25.4 cm (6–10 in) outside 30.48-cm (12-in) walkway width. Ambulates 6 m (20 ft) in less than 9 seconds but greater than 7 seconds.1Moderate impairment—Walks 6 m (20 ft), slow speed, abnormal gait pattern, evidence for imbalance, deviates 25.4–38.1 cm (10–15 in) outside 30.48-cm (12-in) walkway width. Requires more than 9 seconds to ambulate 6 m (20 ft).0Severe impairment—Cannot walk 6 m (20 ft) without assistance, severe gait deviations or imbalance, deviates greater than 38.1 cm (15 in) outside 30.48-cm (12-in) walkway width or will not attempt task.

9. Ambulating backwards

Instructions: “Walk backwards until I tell you to stop.”

3Normal—Walks 6 m (20 ft), no assistive devices, good speed, no evidence for imbalance, normal gait pattern, deviates no more than 15.24 cm (6 in) outside 30.48-cm (12-in) walkway width.2Mild impairment—Walks 6 m (20 ft), uses assistive device, slower speed, mild gait deviations, deviates 15.24–25.4 cm (6–10 in) outside 30.48-cm (12-in) walkway width.1Moderate impairment—Walks 6 m (20 ft), slow speed, abnormal gait pattern, evidence for imbalance, deviates 25.4–38.1 cm (10–15 in) outside 30.48-cm (12-in) walkway width.0Severe impairment—Cannot walk 6 m (20 ft) without assistance, severe gait deviations or imbalance, deviates greater than 38.1 cm (15 in) outside 30.48-cm (12-in) walkway width or will not attempt task.

10. Steps

Instructions: “Walk up these stairs as you would at home (ie, using the rail if necessary). At the top turn around and walk down.”

3Normal—Alternating feet, no rail.2Mild impairment—Alternating feet, must use rail.1Moderate impairment—Two feet to a stair; must use rail.0Severe impairment—Cannot do safely.

Total score
0 / 30

0 of 10 items scored

This supports clinical judgment. It is not a diagnosis. An FGA score can point to fall risk while walking, but it can’t say for sure whether a person will fall, or why. Read it together with the rest of the exam. Results should be reviewed by the treating physical therapist.

How to read the total

Higher is better (maximum 30). Fall-risk cut-offs, as listed by the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Rehabilitation Measures Database:

Group	Cut-off	What the research found
Community-dwelling older adults (60–90)	≤ 22 / 30	Predicted falls; sensitivity 85%, specificity 86% (Wrisley & Kumar, 2010). Confirmed as a fall-risk cut-off in 135 older adults; sensitivity 0.66, specificity 0.84 (Beninato et al., 2014).
Community-dwelling older adults (60–90)	≤ 20 / 30	Predicted unexplained falls in the next 6 months; sensitivity 100%, specificity 76% (Wrisley & Kumar, 2010).
Parkinson disease	< 15 / 30	Identified people with a history of falls; sensitivity 0.72, specificity 0.78 (Leddy et al., 2011). Also predicted falls over the next 6 months (Duncan et al., 2012).
Parkinson disease (inpatients)	≤ 18 / 30	Identified fall risk; sensitivity 80.6%, specificity 80.0% (Yang et al., 2014).

For Parkinson disease, predictions were better when patients were tested off medication (Foreman et al., 2011). No single fall cut-off is listed for stroke or vestibular disorders, so for those groups the tool shows the total and change values only.

Meaningful change

Group	Change value
Community-dwelling older adults	MCID 4 points (Beninato et al., 2014)
Stroke (acute and chronic)	MDC 4.2 points (Lin et al., 2010)
Parkinson disease	MDC 4 points (Petersen et al., 2016)
Vestibular disorders	MDC₉₅ 6 points (Marchetti et al., 2014)

Reference values for unimpaired adults

Walker et al. (2007), 200 community-dwelling adults without impairment:

Age	Mean (SD)	Range
40–49	28.9 (1.5)	24–30
50–59	28.4 (1.6)	25–30
60–69	27.1 (2.3)	20–30
70–79	24.9 (3.6)	16–30
80–89	20.8 (4.7)	10–28

Instrument. Item instructions and 0–3 descriptors are from the original form: Wrisley DM, Marchetti GF, Kuharsky DK, Whitney SL. Reliability, internal consistency, and validity of data obtained with the Functional Gait Assessment. Phys Ther. 2004;84(10):906-918, Appendix (adapted from the Dynamic Gait Index): sralab.org (FGA appendix PDF). Administration rules (assistance, assistive devices, orthoses, guarding position, non-ambulatory baseline, partial tests): Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy, Core Measure: Functional Gait Assessment (FGA): neuropt.org (FGA core measure PDF).

Cut-offs, change values and norms. Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Rehabilitation Measures Database, Functional Gait Assessment: sralab.org/rehabilitation-measures/functional-gait-assessment, citing Wrisley DM, Kumar NA. Phys Ther. 2010;90(5):761-773; Beninato M, et al. Phys Ther. 2014;94(11):1594-1603; Leddy AL, et al. Phys Ther. 2011;91(1):102-113; Duncan RP, et al. Parkinsons Dis. 2012:237673; Yang Y, et al. Phys Ther. 2014;94(3):392-400; Foreman KB, et al. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2011;17(3):166-171; Lin JH, et al. Stroke. 2010;41(9):2021-2025; Petersen CC, et al. J Geriatr Phys Ther. 2016; Marchetti GF, et al. J Neurol Phys Ther. 2014;38:119-124; Walker ML, et al. Phys Ther. 2007;87(11):1468-1477. Core-set recommendation and MDC values: Moore JL, et al. A core set of outcome measures for adults with neurologic conditions undergoing rehabilitation: a clinical practice guideline. J Neurol Phys Ther. 2018;42(3):174-220: journals.lww.com/jnpt.

Permissions. Free to use: the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy states the FGA is “open access and freely available” (neuropt.org), and the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab lists its cost as free.

Clinically reviewed by Dr. Richard Holsman, PT, DPT, NCS. Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Holsman Physical Therapy is not affiliated with these authors, journals or organizations, and they do not endorse this website.

Common Questions

What is the Functional Gait Assessment?

The Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) is a 10-item test of balance while walking, developed by Wrisley and colleagues (Physical Therapy, 2004) from the Dynamic Gait Index. It is one of the six measures in the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy core set for adults with neurologic conditions (Moore et al., 2018).

How is the FGA scored?

Each of the 10 items is scored from 0 (severe impairment) to 3 (normal). The items are added for a total out of 30. Higher scores mean better balance while walking.

What FGA score means fall risk?

In community-dwelling older adults, a score of 22 or less out of 30 predicted falls (Wrisley and Kumar, 2010; sensitivity 85%, specificity 86%), and 20 or less predicted unexplained falls in the next 6 months. In Parkinson disease, a score under 15 identified people with a history of falls (Leddy et al., 2011). These cut-offs come from the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Rehabilitation Measures Database.

How much change in the FGA is meaningful?

In older adults the minimal clinically important difference is 4 points (Beninato et al., 2014). The minimal detectable change is 4.2 points in stroke (Lin et al., 2010), 4 points in Parkinson disease (Petersen et al., 2016) and 6 points in vestibular disorders (Marchetti et al., 2014).

What equipment do I need?

A stopwatch, a 20-foot (6 m) walkway marked 12 inches (30.48 cm) wide, an obstacle 9 inches (22.86 cm) high made of two stacked shoe boxes, and a set of steps 7.75 to 9 inches high with rails on both sides. It takes about 5 to 20 minutes.

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Functional Gait Assessment (FGA)