Clinical tests for balance stability and gait assessment – bedside tests

• Authors: Magdalena Józefowicz-Korczyńska , Jolanta Chmielecka-Rutkowska , Aleksandra Mazerant

Abstracts

EN

Balance and gait stability assessment is an important part of the otoneurological examination. We present the review of the clinical bedside tests procedures for diagnosis patients with balance disorders. Instability may occur not only in vestibular system dysfunction but in neurological, musculoskeletal and visual system lesions as well. An accurate clini-cal bedside ocular motor examination like, range of motion, stability of fixation, the presence of nystagmus, saccadic and smooth pursuit tests, give information about dynamic character of ocular motility. Tests of the balance system and cerebellum functioning were elaborated. Interpretations criteria for clinical bedside tests in different disease were pre-sented. Head shaking and head trust tests for vestibular system imbalance were described. Authors paid attention to the connection between examinations results and labyrinth or central nervous system disorders. Other tests are suggested to be used in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo diagnosis and ability to self-contained patients gait evaluation. There are some more complex and time-consuming tests like Dynamic Gait Index and Berg Balance Scale, measuring quanti-tative aspects of gait efficiency. The results are obtained based on points which are obtained in various tasks e.g. walking with pivot turn, stepping over and around obstacles. All of these tests are essential part of clinical examination and give preliminary information about patients functioning status and allow to focus on further diagnosis.The final results based on points which are obtained in various tasks e.g. walking with pivot turn, stepping over and around obstacles. All of these tests are essential part of clinical examination and give preliminary information about patients functioning status and allow to focus on further diagnosis.

Keywords

EN

clinical tests; balance; stability; gait

• Publisher: Index Copernicus International
• Journal: Polski Przegląd Otorynolaryngologiczny
• Year: 2016
• Volume: 5(1)
• Pages: 57-63

Contributors

author

Magdalena Józefowicz-Korczyńska

author

Jolanta Chmielecka-Rutkowska

author

Aleksandra Mazerant