Romberg's test
Romberg's test is a neurological examination used to evaluate the proprioception and vestibular system of a patient. The test is named after Moritz Heinrich Romberg (1795–1873), a German neurologist who described the test in detail in his textbook published in 1846.
Pronunciation
Romberg's test: /ˈrɒmbɜːrɡz tɛst/
Etymology
The test is named after Moritz Heinrich Romberg, a German neurologist who first described the test in his textbook in 1846.
Procedure
The Romberg's test is performed by asking the patient to stand upright with feet together and arms at the sides, first with eyes open, and then with eyes closed. If the patient is unable to maintain balance with eyes closed, it indicates a positive Romberg's test. This suggests a loss of proprioception and a reliance on visual input for maintaining balance.
Interpretation
A positive Romberg's test suggests a loss of proprioception which could be due to several conditions such as peripheral neuropathy, tabes dorsalis, or vestibular disease. A negative Romberg's test, on the other hand, suggests that the patient's balance is normal.
Related Terms
- Proprioception: The sense of the relative position of one's own parts of the body and strength of effort being employed in movement.
- Vestibular system: The sensory system that provides the leading contribution to the sense of balance and spatial orientation for the purpose of coordinating movement with balance.
- Peripheral neuropathy: A result of damage to the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord (peripheral nerves), often causes weakness, numbness and pain, usually in your hands and feet.
- Tabes dorsalis: A slow degeneration of the nerve cells and nerve fibers that carry sensory information to the brain.
- Vestibular disease: A sudden, non-progressive disturbance of balance.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Romberg's test
- Wikipedia's article - Romberg's test
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