Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-wzw2p Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-22T13:13:51.597Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Environmental factors that affect the Fukuda stepping test in normal participants

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 March 2015

A Munnings ,
B Chisnall ,
S Oji ,
M Whittaker  and
R Kanegaonkar
A Munnings
Affiliation:
Guy's, King's and St Thomas' School of Medicine, London, UK
B Chisnall
Affiliation:
Guy's, King's and St Thomas' School of Medicine, London, UK
S Oji
Affiliation:
Guy's, King's and St Thomas' School of Medicine, London, UK
M Whittaker*
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Medway NHS Foundation Trust, Kent, UK
R Kanegaonkar
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Medway NHS Foundation Trust, Kent, UK Department of Health, Wellbeing and Family, Canterbury Christ Church University, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr M Whittaker, First floor flat, 3 Eaton Place, Brighton BN2 1EH, UK E-mail: maxwhitt@yahoo.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background:

The Fukuda stepping test is commonly used to assess peripheral vestibular function. It has, however, been suggested that its maximal sensitivity and specificity are 70 per cent and 50 per cent, respectively. This study was undertaken to evaluate environmental factors that may influence the reliability of this assessment and hence to ‘sharpen’ its use in a clinical setting.

Methods:

Forty-four participants aged between 20 and 43 years were asked to perform the Fukuda stepping test in both a standard clinic room and a soundproofed room under the following conditions in a randomised order: on the floor versus on foam; with and without a sound-localising source; and with and without ear defenders.

Results:

Significant differences in the extent of rotation were found when comparing the results obtained in several settings, including standing on the floor in a standard room versus a soundproofed room (p = 0.036), and standing on foam in a standard room versus a soundproofed room (p = 0.015).

Conclusion:

Our results suggest that certain alterations to the test environment may improve the sensitivity of this clinical examination.

Keywords

Postural BalanceVertigoPhysical ExaminationVestibule, Labyrinth
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 129 , Issue 5 , May 2015 , pp. 450 - 453
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Presented as a poster at the 2nd meeting of the European Academy of ORL-HNS, 27–30 Apr 2013, Nice, France, and at the 9th meeting of the British Society of Neuro-Otology, 11 Oct 2013, London, UK

References

1Kanegaonkar, R, Amin, K, Clarke, M. The contribution of hearing to normal balance. J Laryngol Otol 2012;126:984–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2Corcoran, J, Jones, G. The role of physiotherapy in the management of the dizzy patient. The Otorhinolaryngologist 2013;6:16–24Google Scholar
3Grommes, C, Conway, D. The stepping test: a step back in history. J Hist Neurosci 2011;20:29–33CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4Unterberger, S. New objectively recordable vestibular reactions obtained by step on the spot. The ‘Stepping test’ [in German] Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 1938;145:478–92CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5Honakar, JA, Shepard, NT. Fukuda stepping test: sensitivity and specificity. J Am Acad Audiol 2009;20:311–14Google Scholar
6Tremblay, F, Mireault, AC, Dessureault, L, Manning, H, Sveistrup, H. Postural stabilization from fingertip contact: I. Variations in sway attenuation, perceived stability and contact forces with ageing. Exp Brain Res 2004;157:275–85CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7Predo, JM, Stoffregen, TA, Duarte, M. Postural sway during dual tasks in young and elderly adults. Gerontology 2007;53:274–81CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8Fukuda, T. The stepping test: two phases of the labyrinthine reflex. Acta Otolaryngol 1958;50:95–108CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9Heinen, T, Jeraj, D, Vinken, PM, Velentzas, K. Rotational preference in gymnastics. J Hum Kinet 2012;33:33–43CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10Morrison, AW. Diagnostic and laboratory evaluation of Ménière's disease. In: Harris, J. ed. Ménière's Disease. The Hague: Kugler Publications 1999;291–304Google Scholar
11Hickey, SA, Ford, GR, Buckley, JG, Fitzgerald O'Connor, A. Unterberger stepping test: a useful indicator of peripheral vestibular dysfunction? J Laryngol Otol 1990;104:599–602CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12Whittaker, M, Mathew, A, Kanani, R, Kanegaonkar, RG. Assessing the Unterberger test: the introduction of a novel application. J Laryngol Otol 2014;128:958–60CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13Jacobson, GP, Shepard, NT. Balance function assessment and management. San Diego: Plural Publishing, 2007Google Scholar
14Kuipers-Upmeijer, J, Oosterhuis, HJ. Unterberger's test not useful in testing of vestibular function [in Dutch]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 1994;138:136–9Google ScholarPubMed