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SPPB — physical performance

Enter results already obtained by a trained examiner. This tool adds the three components of the 2017 protocol; it does not conduct the examination or replace a safety assessment.

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Check the population, units and version. The result shows the formula or classification; it does not make an automatic treatment decision.

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Method · Limits of application

NIA SPPB | LIFE | 2017-01-09 | 4 m gait / 3 m gait

For lower-limb function in older people. Measurements require a trained examiner, the source procedures and a safety assessment. Unassessed, refused and unknown results are not inability and prevent a total score. Select the fastest valid gait attempt. No diagnosis, individual prognosis or treatment recommendation is provided. The 3,600 s input maximum is a technical limit, not a clinical eligibility limit.

Required fields: 0/4 completed

Complete all required fields. Optional fields are marked.

Observed balance-test result required

Gait-test distance required

Observed gait result required

Shortest valid gait time (two attempts, or the only completed attempt) (optional)s · range 0.01–3600

Observed result of five chair rises required

Valid time to complete the five chair rises (optional)s · range 0.01–3600

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Conditions of use

Check the conditions of application before calculating. The result presents the documented formula or criteria; it does not establish a diagnosis or prescription.

Scope of this implementation

Parameters in this edition

Observed balance-test result
Gait-test distance
Observed gait result
Shortest valid gait time (two attempts, or the only completed attempt) · s
Observed result of five chair rises
Valid time to complete the five chair rises · s

Sources and documentation

Method version

NIA SPPB | LIFE | 2017-01-09 | 4 m gait / 3 m gait

Formula and criteria

Total = balance + gait + chair; each component scores 0–4. 4 m gait: <4.82 s = 4; 4.82–6.20 = 3; 6.21–8.70 = 2; >8.70 = 1. 3 m gait: <3.62 s = 4; 3.62–4.65 = 3; 4.66–6.52 = 2; >6.52 = 1. Chair: ≤11.19 s = 4; 11.20–13.69 = 3; 13.70–16.69 = 2; 16.70–60 = 1; >60 / inability = 0. Record hundredths of a second; the tool does not silently round thresholds.

Population and limitations

Synthetic cases checked (27)

Synthetic cases for checking the implementation, with no patient data.

Case 1

reference-001

Inputs

Observed balance-test result: Feet together, semi-tandem and tandem for 10 s each (4)
Gait-test distance: 4 m
Observed gait result: Course completed and timed
Shortest valid gait time (two attempts, or the only completed attempt): 4.81 s
Observed result of five chair rises: Five rises completed without using the arms
Valid time to complete the five chair rises: 11.19 s

{
  "balance": "4",
  "distance": "4",
  "gaitStatus": "completed",
  "gaitTime": 4.81,
  "chairStatus": "completed",
  "chairTime": 11.19
}

Expected result

{
  "score": 12,
  "balance": 4,
  "gait": 4,
  "chair": 4
}

Actual result

{
  "score": 12,
  "balance": 4,
  "gait": 4,
  "chair": 4
}

Case 2

reference-002

Inputs

Observed balance-test result: Feet together, semi-tandem and tandem for 10 s each (4)
Gait-test distance: 4 m
Observed gait result: Course completed and timed
Shortest valid gait time (two attempts, or the only completed attempt): 4.81 s
Observed result of five chair rises: Five rises completed without using the arms
Valid time to complete the five chair rises: 11.19 s

{
  "balance": "4",
  "distance": "4",
  "gaitStatus": "completed",
  "gaitTime": 4.81,
  "chairStatus": "completed",
  "chairTime": 11.19
}

Expected result

{
  "gait": 4,
  "score": 12
}

Actual result

{
  "score": 12,
  "balance": 4,
  "gait": 4,
  "chair": 4
}

Case 3

reference-003

Inputs

Observed balance-test result: Feet together, semi-tandem and tandem for 10 s each (4)
Gait-test distance: 4 m
Observed gait result: Course completed and timed
Shortest valid gait time (two attempts, or the only completed attempt): 4.82 s
Observed result of five chair rises: Five rises completed without using the arms
Valid time to complete the five chair rises: 11.19 s

{
  "balance": "4",
  "distance": "4",
  "gaitStatus": "completed",
  "gaitTime": 4.82,
  "chairStatus": "completed",
  "chairTime": 11.19
}

Expected result

{
  "gait": 3,
  "score": 11
}

Actual result

{
  "score": 11,
  "balance": 4,
  "gait": 3,
  "chair": 4
}

Case 4

reference-004

Inputs

Observed balance-test result: Feet together, semi-tandem and tandem for 10 s each (4)
Gait-test distance: 4 m
Observed gait result: Course completed and timed
Shortest valid gait time (two attempts, or the only completed attempt): 6.2 s
Observed result of five chair rises: Five rises completed without using the arms
Valid time to complete the five chair rises: 11.19 s

{
  "balance": "4",
  "distance": "4",
  "gaitStatus": "completed",
  "gaitTime": 6.2,
  "chairStatus": "completed",
  "chairTime": 11.19
}

Expected result

{
  "gait": 3,
  "score": 11
}

Actual result

{
  "score": 11,
  "balance": 4,
  "gait": 3,
  "chair": 4
}

Case 5

reference-005

Inputs

Observed balance-test result: Feet together, semi-tandem and tandem for 10 s each (4)
Gait-test distance: 4 m
Observed gait result: Course completed and timed
Shortest valid gait time (two attempts, or the only completed attempt): 6.21 s
Observed result of five chair rises: Five rises completed without using the arms
Valid time to complete the five chair rises: 11.19 s

{
  "balance": "4",
  "distance": "4",
  "gaitStatus": "completed",
  "gaitTime": 6.21,
  "chairStatus": "completed",
  "chairTime": 11.19
}

Expected result

{
  "gait": 2,
  "score": 10
}

Actual result

{
  "score": 10,
  "balance": 4,
  "gait": 2,
  "chair": 4
}

Case 6

reference-006

Inputs

Observed balance-test result: Feet together, semi-tandem and tandem for 10 s each (4)
Gait-test distance: 4 m
Observed gait result: Course completed and timed
Shortest valid gait time (two attempts, or the only completed attempt): 8.7 s
Observed result of five chair rises: Five rises completed without using the arms
Valid time to complete the five chair rises: 11.19 s

{
  "balance": "4",
  "distance": "4",
  "gaitStatus": "completed",
  "gaitTime": 8.7,
  "chairStatus": "completed",
  "chairTime": 11.19
}

Expected result

{
  "gait": 2,
  "score": 10
}

Actual result

{
  "score": 10,
  "balance": 4,
  "gait": 2,
  "chair": 4
}

Case 7

reference-007

Inputs

Observed balance-test result: Feet together, semi-tandem and tandem for 10 s each (4)
Gait-test distance: 4 m
Observed gait result: Course completed and timed
Shortest valid gait time (two attempts, or the only completed attempt): 8.71 s
Observed result of five chair rises: Five rises completed without using the arms
Valid time to complete the five chair rises: 11.19 s

{
  "balance": "4",
  "distance": "4",
  "gaitStatus": "completed",
  "gaitTime": 8.71,
  "chairStatus": "completed",
  "chairTime": 11.19
}

Expected result

{
  "gait": 1,
  "score": 9
}

Actual result

{
  "score": 9,
  "balance": 4,
  "gait": 1,
  "chair": 4
}

Case 8

reference-008

Inputs

Observed balance-test result: Feet together, semi-tandem and tandem for 10 s each (4)
Gait-test distance: 3 m (when a 4 m course is unavailable)
Observed gait result: Course completed and timed
Shortest valid gait time (two attempts, or the only completed attempt): 3.61 s
Observed result of five chair rises: Five rises completed without using the arms
Valid time to complete the five chair rises: 11.19 s

{
  "balance": "4",
  "distance": "3",
  "gaitStatus": "completed",
  "gaitTime": 3.61,
  "chairStatus": "completed",
  "chairTime": 11.19
}

Expected result

{
  "gait": 4,
  "score": 12
}

Actual result

{
  "score": 12,
  "balance": 4,
  "gait": 4,
  "chair": 4
}

Case 9

reference-009

Inputs

Observed balance-test result: Feet together, semi-tandem and tandem for 10 s each (4)
Gait-test distance: 3 m (when a 4 m course is unavailable)
Observed gait result: Course completed and timed
Shortest valid gait time (two attempts, or the only completed attempt): 3.62 s
Observed result of five chair rises: Five rises completed without using the arms
Valid time to complete the five chair rises: 11.19 s

{
  "balance": "4",
  "distance": "3",
  "gaitStatus": "completed",
  "gaitTime": 3.62,
  "chairStatus": "completed",
  "chairTime": 11.19
}

Expected result

{
  "gait": 3,
  "score": 11
}

Actual result

{
  "score": 11,
  "balance": 4,
  "gait": 3,
  "chair": 4
}

Case 10

reference-010

Inputs

Observed balance-test result: Feet together, semi-tandem and tandem for 10 s each (4)
Gait-test distance: 3 m (when a 4 m course is unavailable)
Observed gait result: Course completed and timed
Shortest valid gait time (two attempts, or the only completed attempt): 4.65 s
Observed result of five chair rises: Five rises completed without using the arms
Valid time to complete the five chair rises: 11.19 s

{
  "balance": "4",
  "distance": "3",
  "gaitStatus": "completed",
  "gaitTime": 4.65,
  "chairStatus": "completed",
  "chairTime": 11.19
}

Expected result

{
  "gait": 3,
  "score": 11
}

Actual result

{
  "score": 11,
  "balance": 4,
  "gait": 3,
  "chair": 4
}

Case 11

reference-011

Inputs

Observed balance-test result: Feet together, semi-tandem and tandem for 10 s each (4)
Gait-test distance: 3 m (when a 4 m course is unavailable)
Observed gait result: Course completed and timed
Shortest valid gait time (two attempts, or the only completed attempt): 4.66 s
Observed result of five chair rises: Five rises completed without using the arms
Valid time to complete the five chair rises: 11.19 s

{
  "balance": "4",
  "distance": "3",
  "gaitStatus": "completed",
  "gaitTime": 4.66,
  "chairStatus": "completed",
  "chairTime": 11.19
}

Expected result

{
  "gait": 2,
  "score": 10
}

Actual result

{
  "score": 10,
  "balance": 4,
  "gait": 2,
  "chair": 4
}

Case 12

reference-012

Inputs

Observed balance-test result: Feet together, semi-tandem and tandem for 10 s each (4)
Gait-test distance: 3 m (when a 4 m course is unavailable)
Observed gait result: Course completed and timed
Shortest valid gait time (two attempts, or the only completed attempt): 6.52 s
Observed result of five chair rises: Five rises completed without using the arms
Valid time to complete the five chair rises: 11.19 s

{
  "balance": "4",
  "distance": "3",
  "gaitStatus": "completed",
  "gaitTime": 6.52,
  "chairStatus": "completed",
  "chairTime": 11.19
}

Expected result

{
  "gait": 2,
  "score": 10
}

Actual result

{
  "score": 10,
  "balance": 4,
  "gait": 2,
  "chair": 4
}

Case 13

reference-013

Inputs

Observed balance-test result: Feet together, semi-tandem and tandem for 10 s each (4)
Gait-test distance: 3 m (when a 4 m course is unavailable)
Observed gait result: Course completed and timed
Shortest valid gait time (two attempts, or the only completed attempt): 6.53 s
Observed result of five chair rises: Five rises completed without using the arms
Valid time to complete the five chair rises: 11.19 s

{
  "balance": "4",
  "distance": "3",
  "gaitStatus": "completed",
  "gaitTime": 6.53,
  "chairStatus": "completed",
  "chairTime": 11.19
}

Expected result

{
  "gait": 1,
  "score": 9
}

Actual result

{
  "score": 9,
  "balance": 4,
  "gait": 1,
  "chair": 4
}

Case 14

reference-014

Inputs

Observed balance-test result: Feet together, semi-tandem and tandem for 10 s each (4)
Gait-test distance: 4 m
Observed gait result: Course completed and timed
Shortest valid gait time (two attempts, or the only completed attempt): 4.81 s
Observed result of five chair rises: Five rises completed without using the arms
Valid time to complete the five chair rises: 11.19 s

{
  "balance": "4",
  "distance": "4",
  "gaitStatus": "completed",
  "gaitTime": 4.81,
  "chairStatus": "completed",
  "chairTime": 11.19
}

Expected result

{
  "chair": 4,
  "score": 12
}

Actual result

{
  "score": 12,
  "balance": 4,
  "gait": 4,
  "chair": 4
}

Case 15

reference-015

Inputs

Observed balance-test result: Feet together, semi-tandem and tandem for 10 s each (4)
Gait-test distance: 4 m
Observed gait result: Course completed and timed
Shortest valid gait time (two attempts, or the only completed attempt): 4.81 s
Observed result of five chair rises: Five rises completed without using the arms
Valid time to complete the five chair rises: 11.2 s

{
  "balance": "4",
  "distance": "4",
  "gaitStatus": "completed",
  "gaitTime": 4.81,
  "chairStatus": "completed",
  "chairTime": 11.2
}

Expected result

{
  "chair": 3,
  "score": 11
}

Actual result

{
  "score": 11,
  "balance": 4,
  "gait": 4,
  "chair": 3
}

Case 16

reference-016

Inputs

Observed balance-test result: Feet together, semi-tandem and tandem for 10 s each (4)
Gait-test distance: 4 m
Observed gait result: Course completed and timed
Shortest valid gait time (two attempts, or the only completed attempt): 4.81 s
Observed result of five chair rises: Five rises completed without using the arms
Valid time to complete the five chair rises: 13.69 s

{
  "balance": "4",
  "distance": "4",
  "gaitStatus": "completed",
  "gaitTime": 4.81,
  "chairStatus": "completed",
  "chairTime": 13.69
}

Expected result

{
  "chair": 3,
  "score": 11
}

Actual result

{
  "score": 11,
  "balance": 4,
  "gait": 4,
  "chair": 3
}

Case 17

reference-017

Inputs

Observed balance-test result: Feet together, semi-tandem and tandem for 10 s each (4)
Gait-test distance: 4 m
Observed gait result: Course completed and timed
Shortest valid gait time (two attempts, or the only completed attempt): 4.81 s
Observed result of five chair rises: Five rises completed without using the arms
Valid time to complete the five chair rises: 13.7 s

{
  "balance": "4",
  "distance": "4",
  "gaitStatus": "completed",
  "gaitTime": 4.81,
  "chairStatus": "completed",
  "chairTime": 13.7
}

Expected result

{
  "chair": 2,
  "score": 10
}

Actual result

{
  "score": 10,
  "balance": 4,
  "gait": 4,
  "chair": 2
}

Case 18

reference-018

Inputs

Observed balance-test result: Feet together, semi-tandem and tandem for 10 s each (4)
Gait-test distance: 4 m
Observed gait result: Course completed and timed
Shortest valid gait time (two attempts, or the only completed attempt): 4.81 s
Observed result of five chair rises: Five rises completed without using the arms
Valid time to complete the five chair rises: 16.69 s

{
  "balance": "4",
  "distance": "4",
  "gaitStatus": "completed",
  "gaitTime": 4.81,
  "chairStatus": "completed",
  "chairTime": 16.69
}

Expected result

{
  "chair": 2,
  "score": 10
}

Actual result

{
  "score": 10,
  "balance": 4,
  "gait": 4,
  "chair": 2
}

Case 19

reference-019

Inputs

Observed balance-test result: Feet together, semi-tandem and tandem for 10 s each (4)
Gait-test distance: 4 m
Observed gait result: Course completed and timed
Shortest valid gait time (two attempts, or the only completed attempt): 4.81 s
Observed result of five chair rises: Five rises completed without using the arms
Valid time to complete the five chair rises: 16.7 s

{
  "balance": "4",
  "distance": "4",
  "gaitStatus": "completed",
  "gaitTime": 4.81,
  "chairStatus": "completed",
  "chairTime": 16.7
}

Expected result

{
  "chair": 1,
  "score": 9
}

Actual result

{
  "score": 9,
  "balance": 4,
  "gait": 4,
  "chair": 1
}

Case 20

reference-020

Inputs

Observed balance-test result: Feet together, semi-tandem and tandem for 10 s each (4)
Gait-test distance: 4 m
Observed gait result: Course completed and timed
Shortest valid gait time (two attempts, or the only completed attempt): 4.81 s
Observed result of five chair rises: Five rises completed without using the arms
Valid time to complete the five chair rises: 60 s

{
  "balance": "4",
  "distance": "4",
  "gaitStatus": "completed",
  "gaitTime": 4.81,
  "chairStatus": "completed",
  "chairTime": 60
}

Expected result

{
  "chair": 1,
  "score": 9
}

Actual result

{
  "score": 9,
  "balance": 4,
  "gait": 4,
  "chair": 1
}

Case 21

reference-021

Inputs

Observed balance-test result: Feet together, semi-tandem and tandem for 10 s each (4)
Gait-test distance: 4 m
Observed gait result: Course completed and timed
Shortest valid gait time (two attempts, or the only completed attempt): 4.81 s
Observed result of five chair rises: Five rises completed without using the arms
Valid time to complete the five chair rises: 60.01 s

{
  "balance": "4",
  "distance": "4",
  "gaitStatus": "completed",
  "gaitTime": 4.81,
  "chairStatus": "completed",
  "chairTime": 60.01
}

Expected result

{
  "chair": 0,
  "score": 8
}

Actual result

{
  "score": 8,
  "balance": 4,
  "gait": 4,
  "chair": 0
}

Case 22

reference-022

Inputs

Observed balance-test result: Cannot maintain feet together for 10 s (0)
Gait-test distance: 4 m
Observed gait result: Course completed and timed
Shortest valid gait time (two attempts, or the only completed attempt): 4.81 s
Observed result of five chair rises: Five rises completed without using the arms
Valid time to complete the five chair rises: 11.19 s

{
  "balance": "0",
  "distance": "4",
  "gaitStatus": "completed",
  "gaitTime": 4.81,
  "chairStatus": "completed",
  "chairTime": 11.19
}

Expected result

{
  "balance": 0,
  "score": 8
}

Actual result

{
  "score": 8,
  "balance": 0,
  "gait": 4,
  "chair": 4
}

Case 23

reference-023

Inputs

Observed balance-test result: Feet together for 10 s; semi-tandem for less than 10 s (1)
Gait-test distance: 4 m
Observed gait result: Course completed and timed
Shortest valid gait time (two attempts, or the only completed attempt): 4.81 s
Observed result of five chair rises: Five rises completed without using the arms
Valid time to complete the five chair rises: 11.19 s

{
  "balance": "1",
  "distance": "4",
  "gaitStatus": "completed",
  "gaitTime": 4.81,
  "chairStatus": "completed",
  "chairTime": 11.19
}

Expected result

{
  "balance": 1,
  "score": 9
}

Actual result

{
  "score": 9,
  "balance": 1,
  "gait": 4,
  "chair": 4
}

Case 24

reference-024

Inputs

Observed balance-test result: Semi-tandem for 10 s; tandem for less than 3 s (2)
Gait-test distance: 4 m
Observed gait result: Course completed and timed
Shortest valid gait time (two attempts, or the only completed attempt): 4.81 s
Observed result of five chair rises: Five rises completed without using the arms
Valid time to complete the five chair rises: 11.19 s

{
  "balance": "2",
  "distance": "4",
  "gaitStatus": "completed",
  "gaitTime": 4.81,
  "chairStatus": "completed",
  "chairTime": 11.19
}

Expected result

{
  "balance": 2,
  "score": 10
}

Actual result

{
  "score": 10,
  "balance": 2,
  "gait": 4,
  "chair": 4
}

Case 25

reference-025

Inputs

Observed balance-test result: Semi-tandem for 10 s; tandem from 3 to 9.99 s (3)
Gait-test distance: 4 m
Observed gait result: Course completed and timed
Shortest valid gait time (two attempts, or the only completed attempt): 4.81 s
Observed result of five chair rises: Five rises completed without using the arms
Valid time to complete the five chair rises: 11.19 s

{
  "balance": "3",
  "distance": "4",
  "gaitStatus": "completed",
  "gaitTime": 4.81,
  "chairStatus": "completed",
  "chairTime": 11.19
}

Expected result

{
  "balance": 3,
  "score": 11
}

Actual result

{
  "score": 11,
  "balance": 3,
  "gait": 4,
  "chair": 4
}

Case 26

reference-026

Inputs

Observed balance-test result: Feet together, semi-tandem and tandem for 10 s each (4)
Gait-test distance: 4 m
Observed gait result: Course completed and timed
Shortest valid gait time (two attempts, or the only completed attempt): 4.81 s
Observed result of five chair rises: Five rises completed without using the arms
Valid time to complete the five chair rises: 11.19 s

{
  "balance": "4",
  "distance": "4",
  "gaitStatus": "completed",
  "gaitTime": 4.81,
  "chairStatus": "completed",
  "chairTime": 11.19
}

Expected result

{
  "balance": 4,
  "score": 12
}

Actual result

{
  "score": 12,
  "balance": 4,
  "gait": 4,
  "chair": 4
}

Case 27

reference-027

Inputs

Observed balance-test result: Cannot maintain feet together for 10 s (0)
Gait-test distance: 4 m
Observed gait result: Unable to complete the course, as documented by the examiner
Shortest valid gait time (two attempts, or the only completed attempt): null s
Observed result of five chair rises: Cannot complete five rises or needs to use the arms
Valid time to complete the five chair rises: null s

{
  "balance": "0",
  "distance": "4",
  "gaitStatus": "unable",
  "gaitTime": null,
  "chairStatus": "not-completed",
  "chairTime": null
}

Expected result

{
  "score": 0,
  "balance": 0,
  "gait": 0,
  "chair": 0
}

Actual result

{
  "score": 0,
  "balance": 0,
  "gait": 0,
  "chair": 0
}

Source for the active edition

NIA LIFE pilot SPPB protocol

Additional reading and history

Identifier: nia-sppb

Original clinical content: Brazilian Portuguese.

Code and reproducibility

This tool’s code on GitHub

Download code and tests

Sources, version and reproduction instructions

The code tests are technical checks. Clinical approval and professional translation review are recorded separately.

Relationship with cancer research

General context — relationship to be defined

A resource for general clinical contexts. This edition does not assign a specific oncological relationship; selecting it for a study requires a justified question, population and purpose.