Examination of balance
PTP 565
Quote of the day
The greatest crime is not developing your own potential. When you do what you do best, you are helping others.
Roger Williams
Objectives
• Define balance terminology• Recognize the use of the ICF Model in balance
examination• Correctly select and complete a balance
examination using objective measures (SLS, Romberg/Tandem Romberg, Functional Reach, Berg, Tinetti, CTSIB, and ABC)
• Recognize normal versus abnormal results of balance testing (including fall risk)
• Document results of balance testing
Assessing a patient with balance dysfunction can be
• Complicated• Confusing• Discouraging• Challenging• Rewarding
What types of patients have the potential for balance impairment?
Definitions
• Postural control• Balance• Center of gravity• Base of support• Postural orientation• Limits of stability• Anticipatory postural responses• Reactionary postural responses• Sensory interaction/orientation
Fundamental Exam
• Examination– Taking a history– Systems review– Tests and Measures• Body structure and function• Activity• Participation
Taking a History
• Chief complaint• Medical history• Recent history of falls/close falls• Medications• Confidence level (participation level)
Systems Review
• Cardiovascular• Integumentary• Neuromuscular• Musculoskeletal
ICF Model
Body Functions and Structure
• ROM• Ms. Strength• Ms. Tone• Coordination• Cognition• Posture• Pain
Body Functions and Structure
• Sensory Systems (cont)– Somatosensory• Light touch• Proprioception/Vibration• Pain
– Vision– Vestibular
• Perception
Body Functions and Structure
• Sensory Strategies– Why is sensory interaction important? – How do we test sensory interaction in the lab?– How is sensory interaction testing different then
sensory testing?• Sensory Systems used to hold balance– Vision– Vestibular– Somatosensory
Body Functions and Structure
• Motor Strategies– Ankle– Hip– Stepping
Motor Strategies: Ankle
• Control of postural sway from ankles and feet• Head and hips travel in the same direction at
the same time with the body moving as a unit over the feet
• When it is appropriate to use an ankle strategy?– Firm surface– Foot well supported– Slow moving with minimal displacement
Motor Strategies: Hip
• Control of postural sway from pelvis and trunk• Head and hips travel in opposite directions• When is it appropriate to use a hip strategy?– Foot not completely supported– Quick and large displacements
Motor Strategies: Stepping
• Steps with the feet to establish a new base of support when the center of gravity has exceeded the original base of support
• When is it appropriate to use a stepping strategy?– When the other strategies are not sufficient
enough to maintain equilibrium
Body Functions and Structure
• Modified CTSIB• Single Leg Stance• Romberg/Sharpened Romberg
Clinical Test for Sensory Interaction in Balance
• Clinical version of the Sensory Organization Test that does not require computerized force plate
• Designed to assess the patient’s ability to select and combine sensory information in different environments
• Does not measure the integrity of the three sensory systems
Sensory Weighting
Firm Surface•70% somatosensory•20% vestibular•10% vision
Unstable Surface•10% somatosensory•60% vestibular•30% vision
Peterka et al, 2004
Clinical Test for Sensory Interaction in Balance
• Condition 1: Firm surface, eyes open• Condition 2: Firm surface, eyes closed• Condition 3: Firm surface, dome• Condition 4: Foam surface, eyes open• Condition 5: Foam surface, eyes closed• Condition 6: Foam surface, dome
Single Leg Stance
• Person stands with knee flexed 90° (legs should not be touching each other)
• Arms crossed around shoulders• Norms• Document – Number of attempts – Time– Visual observation during trial
Romberg/Tandem Romberg
• Person stands with feet together (Romberg) and eyes open
• Repeat the test with eyes closed• Person stands with one foot directly in front of the other
(Tandem Romberg)• Normal is the ability to hold the test position for 30
seconds• Document
– Number of attempts– Time– Visual observation during trial
Activity and Participation
Activity Balance Measures• Berg• Tinetti• Functional Reach
Participation Balance Measures
• Activities Based Confidence Scale
Berg
• 14 test items intended to assess a person's ability to perform common ADLs safely
• Items are scored from 0 to 4, maximum score is 56
• Scores < 36 indicate a fall risk close to 100%
Tinetti
• Consists of 2 subscales to screen for balance and mobility skills in older adults and determine likelihood of falls– Balance– Gait
• Score 19-24 are at moderate risk of falls• Score <19 are considered high risk for falls
Functional Reach
• Define maximum distance one can reach forward beyond arm’s length while maintaining fixed base of support in standing
• Examines limits of stability in forward direction• Person stands near wall with feet parallel, raises
arm nearest wall to 90° of shoulder flexion, makes a fist and leans as far forward as possible
• < 6 inches predicative of increased risk of falls
Activities Based Confidence Scale
• 16 item questionnaire that is a measure of balance self-efficacy in which subjects rate their confidence performing a variety of in home and community based functional activities such as walking in a variety of environments, reaching, picking things up from the floor.
• Scores range from 0-100 where higher scores indicate greater balance confidence
Review
• Examination of a patient with balance disorder can happen at the level of Body Structure/Function, Activity, and Participation
• Numerous objective tools to use to examine balance• No single test of balance is available that covers the
multiple dimensions of balance• Need to select a test that sufficiently challenges the
patient being tested• SAFETY
– Gait belt– Closely guarded
Lab
• Video clips of balance examination• Paper patient cases– Select the correct test– Practice performing and documenting balance
examination