Assesses static standing balance. It was developed to screen for myelopathies and neuropathies with associated sensory dysfunction, yet has become used as a part of the suit of static balance tests.
1
2 minutes
Adult
18 - 64
yearsElderly Adult
65 +
yearsElizabeth Dannenbaum MscPT for the Vestibular EDGE task force of the Neurology section of the APTA
Recommendations for use of the instrument from the Neurology Section of the American Physical Therapy Association’s Multiple Sclerosis Taskforce (MSEDGE), Parkinson’s Taskforce (PD EDGE), Spinal Cord Injury Taskforce (PD EDGE), Stroke Taskforce (StrokEDGE), Traumatic Brain Injury Taskforce (TBI EDGE), and Vestibular Taskforce (Vestibular EDGE) are listed below. These recommendations were developed by a panel of research and clinical experts using a modified Delphi process.
For detailed information about how recommendations were made, please visit:
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Abbreviations: |
|
|
HR |
Highly Recommend |
|
R |
Recommend |
|
LS / UR |
Reasonable to use, but limited study in target group / Unable to Recommend |
|
NR |
Not Recommended |
Recommendations for use based on acuity level of the patient:
|
|
Acute (CVA < 2 months post) (SCI < 1 month post) (Vestibular < 6 weeks post) |
Subacute (CVA 2 to 6 months) (SCI 3 to 6 months) |
Chronic (> 6 months) (Vestibular > 6 weeks post) |
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VEDGE |
LS |
LS |
LS |
Recommendations based on vestibular diagnosis
|
|
Peripheral |
Central |
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) |
Other |
|
VEDGE |
LS |
LS |
LS |
LS |
Recommendations for entry-level physical therapy education and use in research:
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|
Students should learn to administer this tool? (Y/N) |
Students should be exposed to tool? (Y/N) |
Appropriate for use in intervention research studies? (Y/N) |
Is additional research warranted for this tool (Y/N) |
|
VEDGE |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
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Romberg is often included in the suite of tests used to asses balance in the vestibular and non vestibular clientèle (Gottshal 2011, Whitney S, 2007)
(Bohannon et al, 1984)
184 volunteers performed the Romberg test (eyes open and closed): All were able to maintain balance for 30 sec.
(Gill-Body et al, 2000)
EYES CLOSED: Bilateral vestibular hypofunction (n = 18) Mean: 43.41/60 sec, SD 24.26, range 1.1-60.0 sec, Unilateral vestibular hypofunction (n = 34) Mean: 54.03, SD 12.57, range 17.8-60
Romberg is often included in the suite of tests used to asses balance in the vestibular and non vestibular clientèle (Gottshal 2011, Whitney S, 2007)
(Karapolat et al, 2010)
In people with unilateral vestibular hypofunction (n = 33) there is no correlation between the Romberg test and the Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale (ABC)
Bohannon, R. W., Larkin, P. A., et al. (1984). "Decrease in timed balance test scores with aging." Physical Therapy 64(7): 1067-1070.
Gill-Body, K. M., Beninato, M., et al. (2000). "Relationship among balance impairments, functional performance, and disability in people with peripheral vestibular hypofunction." Physical Therapy 80(8): 748-758.
Gottshall, K. (2011). "Vestibular rehabilitation after mild traumatic brain injury with vestibular pathology." NeuroRehabilitation 29(2): 167-171.
Karapolat, H., Eyigor, S., et al. (2010). "Reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change of Turkish Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale in patients with unilateral peripheral vestibular disease." International Journal of Rehabilitation Research 33(1): 12-18.
We have reviewed more than 500 instruments for use with a number of diagnoses including stroke, spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury among several others.