Evaluation of clinical measures of equilibrium.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the clinical utility of several simple measures of static and dynamic equilibrium in human subjects. In particular, one proposed clinical measure, the Clinical Test of Sensory Integration and Balance (CTSIB) was compared with dynamic posturography for the measurement of postural control capabilities.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study of normal subjects and prospective observational study of the same performance measures in vestibular disorder patients.

SETTING

Academic tertiary care referral center.

PARTICIPANTS

Data were collected for all test measures from a group of normal subjects (ages, 20 to 79 years), as well as for a group of patients undergoing treatment for vestibular dysfunction.

RESULTS

Data suggest that several semiquantitative clinical tests of static and dynamic equilibrium can be helpful in evaluating and monitoring patients with chronic vestibular dysfunction. The CTSIB results seem to correlate well with dynamic posturography, suggesting that this measure may be useful in identifying patients with abnormal postural control. Formal dynamic posturography testing appears to be more sensitive in detecting abnormal postural control and more exact in defining the specific pattern of dysfunction.

CONCLUSION

Simple clinical measures of static and dynamic equilibrium can reliably distinguish vestibular disorder patients from normal subjects. Dynamic posturography continues to play an important role in the functional evaluation and management of vestibular disorder patients.