The SPPB scores balance, walking speed and chair stands into a 0 to 12 total, and handgrip strength adds a direct measure of muscle strength. This form records the raw times and kilograms so scores can be rechecked.
Free sandbox · No credit card · 21 CFR Part 11 aligned
SPPB
Tandem stand hold
BALTGait speed, 4 m, faster of two
GAITFive chair stands
CHAIRHandgrip
Dominant hand, trial 1 / 2 / 3
GRIPBest value
Below 27 kg (EWGSOP2, men)
SPPB and grip strength at a glance
Licensing
Free, with conditionsRights holder: National Institute on Aging (SPPB protocols)The SPPB (Guralnik et al., 1994) is described by the PhenX Toolkit as freely available with no permission required, and NIA hosts the protocol and a video. NIA's own terms were not confirmed, so check them for your use. Handgrip strength is a measurement, not a licensed instrument.
In Capture: Capture doesn't supply this instrument or a licence for it. Once you have both, enter the official wording yourself and keep the licence with your study documents. Capture's licence controls apply to patient questionnaires, not to site-completed forms like this one.
PhenX Toolkit, physical functioning protocolInstrument names belong to their rights holders, and Capture is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. Terms change, so confirm them with the rights holder before your study starts. This is general information, not legal advice.
The measures
The SPPB tests lower-limb function with three timed tasks that most older adults can try. It predicts disability, hospitalisation and mortality and responds to exercise and nutrition interventions, which is why it is a frequent primary or key secondary endpoint in sarcopenia, frailty and mobility trials. A one-point change is small; many studies describe a change of one point or more as meaningful, but state your minimal clinically important difference in the protocol.
Handgrip strength is quick, cheap and strongly associated with overall muscle strength. It is the strength criterion in the EWGSOP2 sarcopenia algorithm, and it is one of the five Fried criteria in the frailty form. Where a trial needs aerobic function as well, the 6-minute walk test is the usual companion. For the study-level view, see EDC for sarcopenia clinical trials.
Balance: holding side-by-side for 10 seconds earns 1 point, otherwise 0 and the balance test stops. Semi-tandem for 10 seconds earns 1 point. Tandem earns 2 points for 10 seconds, 1 point for 3 to under 10 seconds and 0 for under 3 seconds. Gait speed and chair stands are scored 0 to 4 from time bands (faster is higher), with 0 for unable to complete. The chair-stand test is only attempted if the participant can stand from a chair once without using the arms. The published protocol lists the exact time cut-points; use the NIA or original protocol version and name it in the analysis plan.
Field by field
| Field | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Test date, assessor | Date, text | Assessor initials for training review |
| Side-by-side, semi-tandem, tandem holds | Number, seconds, or not attempted | Capped at 10 seconds; reason if not attempted |
| Gait speed trials 1 and 2 | Number, seconds | Course length (4 m), aid used; faster trial counts |
| Can stand once without arms | Single choice | Gate for the chair-stand test |
| Five chair stands time | Number, seconds | Unable or declined with reason |
| Balance, gait and chair part scores | Number 0 to 4 | Entered from the score sheet or derived in analysis |
| SPPB total | Number 0 to 12 | Derived in analysis; part scores sum |
| Grip dynamometer model, units | Text | Same device per site; calibration date |
| Hand tested, dominant hand | Single choice | Left and right |
| Grip trials 1 to 3, each hand | Number, kg | Best value per hand carried to analysis |
| Reason not performed | Single choice, text | Pain, surgery, refusal, equipment |
Match the form to the exact protocol version your sites follow, including seat height, walking aids and number of grip trials.
Build it in Capture
This is a site-completed eCRF. The assessor records each time as measured, and the form checks the entries before they reach analysis.
Edit checks / auto-queries
2Type
Range High
Operator
Greater than
Value
180
Priority: High
Type
Range Low
Operator
Less than
Value
80
Priority: Normal
Query raised automatically
Value 192 violates limit (180). Please verify.
Licensing
The SPPB is a performance test completed by staff, so in Capture it is an eCRF. Capture's licence controls exist for participant questionnaires only; eCRFs have none. Record the source and version of your protocol in the study documents. Capture does not verify licences with rights holders and does not supply instrument materials.
Copyright & licence
Approval pendingLicence number
Not recorded
Expiry date
Not recorded
Watermark shown to staff only. Participants never see it.
Setup
Choose the SPPB protocol and score sheet your sites will use, and the grip protocol (seated or standing, number of trials, device).
Add the three balance holds, gait trials, chair-stand gate and time, then grip trials per hand.
Gate the chair stand test and add range and custom-value rules.
Standardise the walking course, chair height and verbal instructions. Record assessor initials.
Approve the form and add it to the baseline and follow-up visits.
Put the score bands and the grip cut-offs in the analysis plan. Part scores and totals are computed from the export.
Worked example
A participant holds side-by-side and semi-tandem for the full 10 seconds (1 point each) and tandem for 6.2 seconds (1 point), so balance scores 3. Gait speed over 4 metres takes 5.1 seconds, and chair stands take 13.4 seconds. Using the published time bands, the analyst assigns the gait and chair part scores and sums the three parts to the total. Suppose that total is 9: moderate function and above the 8-or-less sarcopenia severity marker. Best grip is 25.5 kg in a man, which is below the 27 kg low-strength threshold.
Strength is low but function is above the severity marker, a plausible profile for a participant who would enter a strength-training trial. Because the form stores raw values, the same data can be classified with the FNIH grip cut-off of 26 kg without any re-entry.
Week 12 total
9 / 12
Before go-live
Score sheet and time bands stored in the study documents.
Same chair height, 4 m course and dynamometer model, with calibration dates.
Scripted instructions and a practice session at each site.
Whether a cane or walker is allowed is stated and recorded each time.
Falls or injuries during testing are reported, for example on the adverse event form.
Add the fields, test the skip logic and enter a sample participant. No credit card.
Three tests, each 0 to 4: standing balance, 4-metre gait speed and five chair stands. The total runs from 0 to 12. Common bands are 0 to 3 severe, 4 to 6 low, 7 to 9 moderate and 10 to 12 high function.
The PhenX Toolkit lists the protocol as freely available with no permission required, and NIA hosts protocols and a video. NIA's own terms were not confirmed for this page, so check them before you start.
No. Capture's calculated fields are a fixed set of clinical derivations such as BMI and eGFR. Store raw times and derive part scores and total in analysis.
EWGSOP2 uses below 27 kg for men and below 16 kg for women. FNIH uses 26 kg and 16 kg. State which your protocol follows.
Raw values let you check the score and re-score if the protocol or cut-points change.
Yes. Use skip logic and a reason field. Define in the analysis plan how an untestable participant is scored.
Trained site staff. It is a site-completed eCRF.
Build the form, test the checks and enter a participant. Free sandbox, no credit card.