Table 1 Description, frequency of use, and effect sizes of motor assessments applied in previous randomised controlled trials

 FICSIT-4 [49]

Task: performing four different stances with eyes open for 10 seconds: (a) feet together, (b) semi-tandem, (c) tandem, (d) single-leg

Measurement: score [0–5], which rates performance according to ability to maintain stances

1 RCT (n = 109) [50]

–

 Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction of Balance [51]

Task: standing on a platform (NeuroCom Balance Master) as quietly as possible for 10 seconds under four sensory conditions: eyes open and closed standing on firm surface and foam

Measurements: sway velocity [deg/s], composite score for all conditions

1 RCT (n = 40) [52]

–

 Limits of Stability [51]

Task: standing on NeuroCom Balance Master and moving cursor from centre box directly to eight target boxes as fast and as close as possible by shifting weight

Measurements: reaction time [s], movement velocity [deg/s], maximum excursion [%], directional control [%], summary composite score

1 RCT (n = 40) [52]

–

 Physiomat-Trail-Making Task [53]

Task: standing on Physiomat and connecting digits by shifting weight

Measurements: total duration [s], accuracy of sway path [digits/ms]

1 RCT (n = 84) [54]

–

 Physiomat-Follow-The-Ball Task [53]

Task: standing on Physiomat and moving cursor from centre of screen directly to targets as fast as possible by shifting weight

Measurements: total duration [s], accuracy of sway path [digits/ms]

1 RCT (n = 84) [54]

–

 FR [55]

Task: standing next to a wall, holding one arm parallel to a metre stick attached to the wall at shoulder height, and reaching forward as far as possible without losing balance or changing foot position

Measurement: distance from starting to end position [cm]

5 RCT (n = 204) [52, 56,57,58,59]

Small to large ^c

 Hill Step Test [60]

Task: stepping 1 foot onto a block and returning it to the floor as quickly as possible for 15 seconds

Measurement: number of repetitions

2 RCT (n = 54) [52, 61]

–

 Step Quick Turn Test [51]

Task: taking two steps forward on NeuroCom Balance Master, quickly turning, and returning to starting point

Measurements: turn time [s], turn sway [deg/s]

1 RCT (n = 40) [52]

–

 Figure of Eight Test [62]

Task: walking a lap of a standard figure-eight trajectory as quickly and accurately as possible

Measurements: walking speed [m/s], number of oversteps

1 RCT (n = 109) [50]

–

 GMWT [63]

Task: walking over a meandering curved line as quickly and accurately as possible

Measurements: walking speed [m/s], number of oversteps

1 RCT (n = 109) [50]

–

 BBS [64]

Task: 14-item functional balance assessment with simple everyday tasks (reaching, bending, transferring, standing, and rising), which are graded on a five-point ordinal scale (0 to 4)

Measurement: score [0–56]

11 RCT (n = 648) [56, 57, 65,66,67,68,69,70,71,72,73]

Small to large ^c/r

 Modified BBS [64]

Task: abbreviated version of the original 14-item BBS, excluding three items (chair-to-chair transfer, forward reach with outstretched arm, and alternate stepping on-off stool)

Measurement: score [0–44]

1 RCT (n = 23) [74]

–

 POMA [75]

Task: scale with two parts, assessing balance (B) and gait (G)

(B) sitting balance, rising from a chair and sitting down, standing balance (with eyes open and closed), and turning balance

(G) gait initiation, step length and height, symmetry, continuity, path direction, and trunk sway

Measurements: total score [0–28], balance score [0–16], gait score [0–12]

7 RCT (n = 300) [68, 70, 76,77,78,79,80]

No to large ^c/r

 TUG [81]

Task: standing up from a chair, walking three metres, turning around, walking back to chair, and sitting down

Measurements: time [s], number of steps

16 RCT (n = 1001) [50, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, 68, 70, 73, 78, 79, 82,83,84,85,86]

No to large ^c/r

 Cognitive TUG [87]

Task: TUG with additional cognitive task (counting backwards by threes/evoke names of animals)

Measurement: time [s]

2 RCT (n = 60) [52, 56]

–

 Manual TUG [25, 87]

Task: TUG with additional manual task (carrying a glass of water)

Measurement: time [s]

1 RCT (n = 40) [52]

–

 6 m WT [88]

Task: walking six metres with comfortable pace

Measurements: walking speed [m/s], step length [m]

3 RCT (n = 379) [50, 71, 89]

–

 4 m WT [88]

Task: walking four metres with comfortable pace

Measurement: walking speed [m/s]

2 RCT (n = 244) [90, 91]

Small ^c/r

 Instrumented gait analysis [92]

Task: walking with comfortable/fast pace over an electronic walkway (GAITRite, Bessou locometer, NeuroCom Balance Master)

Measurements: walking speed [cm/s, m/s], cadence [steps/min], stride/step length [cm, m], stride time [s], double/single support [% of stride time], double limb support time [s], step width [cm], step time variability [CV], Walk-Ratio [step length/cadence]

6 RCT (n = 370) [52, 78, 93,94,95,96]

Small to large ^c/r

 5x STS [97]

Task: performing five repetitions of the STS task without upper extremity assistance

Measurement: time [s]

7 RCT (n = 358) [52, 58, 68, 77, 78, 94, 98]

No to large ^c/r

 STS on NeuroCom Balance Master [51]

Task: standing up from a seated position without upper extremity assistance

Measurements: rising index [% of body weight], centre of gravity sway velocity [deg/s]

1 RCT (n = 40) [52]

–

 ACSID [99]

Task: performing five repetitions of the STS task without upper extremity assistance while motor and cognitive aspects of movement process are qualitatively rated

Measurements: total score [0–10], sub scores ‘recall and initiation’ [0–5], ‘effective performance’ [0–5]

1 RCT (n = 77) [100]

Large ^c/r

 30s CST [17, 101]

Task: performing as many repetitions of STS task as possible in 30 s

Modified version: use of upper extremity assistance is allowed

Measurement: number of repetitions

5 RCT (n = 408) [56, 71, 74, 80, 84]

Modified: 1 RCT (n = 109) [50]

Large ^c/r

 Handgrip dynamometer [102]

Task: putting maximum force on a dynamometer

Measurement: maximum handgrip strength [KPa, kg]

3 RCT (n = 263) [67, 78, 94]

No ^r

 Maximum isometric strength assessed with dynamometers [103]

Task: pushing as hard as possible against a dynamometer after adopting a standardised position

Measurements: maximum strength [N] and integral over time [Ns] for knee extension, knee flexion, and ankle flexion

2 RCT (n = 216) [50, 78]

–

 6 min WT [104]

Task: walking for 6 minutes with comfortable pace

Measurement: distance [m, ft]

5 RCT (n = 359) [50, 57, 105,106,107]

–

 SPPB [108]

Task: three subtests including standing balance (tandem, semi-tandem, and side-by-side stands), walking speed over an 8-ft walking course, and 5x STS

Measurement: score [0–12]

3 RCT (n = 313) [77, 90, 109]

Small to medium ^c/r

 E-ADL Test [110, 111]

Task: five items (pouring a drink, spreading butter on a sandwich and cutting the sandwich, open a small cupboard with a key, washing and drying hands, and tying a bow on a small wrapped present), which are rated according to correctly performed substeps (0–6 points)

Measurement: score [0–30]

2 RCT (n = 192) [112, 113]

–