What is the TFC Balance Screen?Updated 2 hours ago
Purpose
Help customers understand what the TFC Balance Screen is, why it matters, and what their Balance Score means.
What is the TFC Balance Screen?
The TFC Balance Screen is a simple self assessment that helps you understand your balance, foot function, and overall movement control.
It includes four single leg balance tests, completed on both sides where possible. Each test gives your body a slightly different challenge, so the screen can show how well your feet, ankles, hips, brain, and nervous system are working together to keep you stable.
It is not a medical diagnosis. It is however a practical check in that gives you a starting point, helps guide your training, and lets you track progress over time.
Why is balance important?
Balance is one of the clearest ways to understand how well your body can sense, respond, and adapt.
Your feet and lower body play a major role in balance as part of your somatosensory system. The soles of your feet contain lots of sensory receptors that detect pressure and contact with the ground, and your joints and muscles provide proprioceptive input. Together, this feedback helps your brain understand where your body is and how it is moving, with the support of the visual and vestibular systems. When your feet are strong, mobile, and able to sense and respond well to the ground, balance can often improve, especially if foot and ankle control is a key limiting factor.
Good balance can support:
- Better foot and ankle function
- More confidence with movement
- Improved coordination and body awareness
- Stronger foundations for walking, running, training, and sport
- A clearer understanding of where your body may need more support or practice
Balance is also trainable. Your score simply shows where you are starting from and gives you something measurable to work from.
What does my Balance Score mean?
Your TFC Balance Score is a score out of 100. It is calculated from the total time you can hold each balance test.
A higher score generally means you were able to stay balanced through more of the screen. A lower score means your balance system may need more practice, support, or gradual progression.
The most important thing to know is that your score is not a pass or fail result. It is a snapshot of your current balance ability.
Think of it like a baseline.
It helps you understand:
- Where you are starting from
- Which level of training may suit you best
- Whether one side feels different from the other
- How your balance changes as you keep training
Balance Score levels
Use the customer’s score to explain the recommended starting level:
| Score | Level | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 39 | Green Belt, beginner | Their balance is still finding its foundation. Start with stable, controlled training to build confidence and consistency. |
| 40 to 89 | Blue Belt, intermediate | They have a solid baseline. Add more challenge to sharpen control and continue progressing. |
| 89+ | Black Belt, advanced | Their balance is strong. They may be ready for advanced challenges that test control, adaptability, and confidence. |
How should I use my score?
Use your score to choose the right starting point and retest regularly.
If your score is lower than expected, start with the beginner level and focus on building control, confidence, and consistency. If your score is higher, you may be ready for more challenging balance work.
We recommend retesting over time so you can see how your balance changes. Progress may show up as a higher score, but it may also show up as feeling steadier, more confident, or more controlled during the tests.
What if one side scores lower than the other?
That is common.
Most people have differences between sides. A side to side difference can simply show that one foot, ankle, hip, or balance strategy needs more attention.
Rather than seeing this as a problem, use it as helpful information. Training both sides, while giving the less confident side a little extra care, can help build more balanced movement over time.
What if I cannot complete a test?
That is okay.
Only do what feels safe and appropriate for your body. If a test feels too difficult, creates pain, or makes you feel unsafe, stop the test and record the time you reached.
Your score is still useful because it shows your current starting point. You can build from there.
If you have pain, dizziness, a recent injury, a medical condition, or concerns about falling, we recommend checking in with a qualified health professional before pushing into more challenging balance work.
The main takeaway:
The TFC Balance Screen is a simple way to understand your current balance ability and how your feet are contributing to your movement.
Your score is not a judgement. It is a starting point.
Use it to guide your training, track your progress, and build stronger, more confident foundations from the ground up.