Screening People on Standing Balance with Romberg Testing and Walking Balance with Tandem Walking

Authors

Helen S Cohen

Publication Date

9-1-2023

Journal

JoVE: Peer Reviewed Scientific Video Journal Article Protocols

DOI

10.3791/65663

PMID

37677015

PMCID

PMC10880181

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

9-1-2024

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Author MSS

Published Open-Access

yes

Keywords

Humans, Walking, Gait, Eye, Vestibular Diseases, balance, vestibular, screening, normed, Romberg, heel-toe, standing, walking

Abstract

The goal of this protocol is to inform readers about the exact procedures to use to perform two screening tests for vestibular disorders: tandem walking (TW) with eyes closed, also known as heel-toe walking, and the Clinical Test of Sensory Integration and Balance (CTSIB), which is also known as the modified Romberg. The study describes the steps for performing each test and each of the three CTSIB subtests so that the reader will be able to replicate the test conditions for use in the clinic, in the clinical laboratory, or in any other situation needing valid and reliable screening for balance skill which might be affected by changes in vestibular system function. The procedures detailed here can be easily administered and take less than 1 min per trial. References to published papers with normative data are provided. The representative results section includes examples of data collected with these screening tests.