FABS test
≥25 points = high fall risk
high sensitivity and specificity
MiniBEST
16/28 indicates high fall risk
high specificity and sensitivity
Berg Balance Test
Cutoff score ≤ 50 points
ceiling effect, patients can score a high score but still be at a fall risk
low sensitivity, high specificity
TUG
cuttoff score ≥ 12 sec
low sensitivity, high specificity
Combining TUG, gait speed, and miniBEST
if all 3 tests are + = 89% chance or ID person at risk of falling
if all 3 tests are - = 3% chance of obtaining a false negative result
Gait Speed
no clear cut off score identified
SPIN/SNOUT not reported
Most promise in identifying fall risk
previous history of falling
modified functional reach test
gait speed
balance tests that assess multiple balance resources
Using Knees to get off the floor
Using arms to get up from fall
Ocular ROM
Neuroanatomy of ocular ROM
CN 3, 4, 6 (motor)
CN 3 = m. rectus, s. rectus, i. rectus, i. oblique
CN 4 = s. oblique
CN 6 = l. rectus
Documentation of Ocular ROM
describe any asymmetry in resting eye position and any observed inability to move the eye and in which direction
Smooth Pursuit
Neuroanatomy of smooth pursuit
Cerebellum – flocculonodular lobe, vermis
Documentation of smooth pursuit
describe the eye movements as normal or saccadic
describe the direction of saccadic intrusions
Saccades
Neuroanatomy of saccades
cerebral cortex = frontal eye fields, purposeful eye movements
basal ganglia = impaired initiation or suppression
cerebellar vermis = dysmetria (overshoot/undershoot)
Documentation of saccades
describe the movement as normal, hypermetric, or hypometric including direction of saccade
normal gaze shift requires only 1-2 saccades
Gaze Holding Nystagmus
Neuroanatomy for Gaze holding nystagmus
vestibular system
cerebellum
Documentation of gaze holding nystagmus
document as intact or impaired
document the direction of impaired fization, in which eye it is noted, and associated S/S
it is normal for pts to have nystagmus present at end range gaze so its important that the target isn’t at end range
VOR Test
Neuroanatomy for VOR
vestibular system
Documentation of VOR
document intact VOR or inability to maintain stable gaze on target