Tinetti Calculator

Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Tinetti Balance and Gait Assessment Calculator

The Tinetti Balance and Gait Assessment Calculator is a tool used to evaluate a person’s balance and gait. This guide will walk you through using the calculator step by step.

Step 1: Input Balance Measurements

• Sitting Balance: Choose between ‘Leans or slides in chair’ (0) and ‘Steady, safe’ (1).
• Rises from Chair: Select one of the following options: ‘Unable without help’ (0), ‘Able, uses arms to help’ (1), or ‘Able without using arms’ (2).
• Attempts to Rise: Choose ‘Unable without help’ (0), ‘More than one attempt required’ (1), or ‘Single attempt’ (2).
• Immediate Standing Balance (first 5 seconds): Select ‘Unsteady’ (0), ‘Steady but uses walker or other support’ (1), or ‘Steady without walker or other support’ (2).
• Standing Balance: Choose ‘Unsteady’ (0), ‘Steady but wide stance or uses support’ (1), or ‘Narrow stance without support’ (2).
• Nudged (subject with feet close together): Select ‘Begins to fall’ (0), ‘Staggers, grabs, catches self’ (1), or ‘Steady’ (2).
• Eyes Closed (feet close together): Choose between ‘Unsteady’ (0) and ‘Steady’ (1).
• Turning 360 Degrees: Select ‘Discontinuous steps’ (0) or ‘Continuous steps’ (1).
• Turning 360 Degrees Stability: Choose ‘Unsteady (grabs, staggers)’ (0) or ‘Steady’ (1).
• Sitting Down: Select ‘Unsafe (misjudged distance, falls into chair)’ (0), ‘Uses arms or not smooth motion’ (1), or ‘Safe, smooth motion’ (2).

Step 2: Input Gait Measurements

• Gait Initiation: Choose between ‘Any hesitancy or multiple attempts’ (0) and ‘No hesitancy’ (1).
• Step Length and Height: Select ‘Right foot does not pass left stance foot’ (0) or ‘Right foot passes left stance foot’ (1).
• Step Symmetry: Choose ‘Right and left step length not equal’ (0) or ‘Right and left step appear equal’ (1).
• Step Continuity: Select ‘Stopping or discontinuity between steps’ (0) or ‘Steps appear continuous’ (1).
• Path Deviation: Choose ‘Marked deviation’ (0), ‘Mild/moderate deviation or uses walking aid’ (1), or ‘Straight without walking aid’ (2).
• Trunk Stability: Select ‘Marked sway or uses walking aid’ (0), ‘No sway but flexion of knees or back or spreads arms’ (1), or ‘No sway, no flexion, no arms, no walking aid’ (2).
• Walking Stance: Choose ‘Heels apart’ (0) or ‘Heels almost touching while walking’ (1).

Step 3: Calculate Scores

After entering all the required input fields, the calculator will automatically compute the following scores:

• Balance Score: This score is calculated by summing up the values of ‘Sitting Balance’, ‘Rises from Chair’, ‘Attempts to Rise’, ‘Immediate Standing Balance (first 5 seconds)’, ‘Standing Balance’, ‘Nudged’, ‘Eyes Closed’, ‘Turning 360 Degrees’, ‘Turning 360 Degrees Stability’, and ‘Sitting Down’. The score ranges from 0 to 16.
• Gait Score: This score is calculated by summing up the values of ‘Gait Initiation’, ‘Step Length and Height’, ‘Step Symmetry’, ‘Step Continuity’, ‘Path Deviation’, ‘Trunk Stability’, and ‘Walking Stance’. The score ranges from 0 to 12.
• Total Tinetti Score: This score is the sum of the Balance Score and Gait Score, with a maximum score of 28.

Use these scores to assess the person’s balance and gait capabilities. A higher score indicates better balance and gait performance.