Vestibular and Balance Flashcards
(178 cards)
Balance is a skill that emerges from what 3 systems
Vestibular Visual Somatosensory
T/F Balance can improve with practice
True
Needs for balance control
Musculoskeletal components Internal representations Adaptive mechanisms Anticipatory mechanisms Sensory strategies Individual sensory systems Neuromuscular synergies
Berg Balance score for non-fall risk
> 45/56
Dynamic Gait Index
Assesses ability to modify balance while walking in the presence of external demands
Function of Vestibular system
Maintain equilibrium and balance
Signs and symptoms of vestibular impairment
Nystagmus Tinnitus Vertigo – room spins around pt. or pt. feels like they are spinning Hearing loss Loss of balance and possible falls Broad-based stance (to accommodate for imbalance) Sweating, nausea, and vomiting (due to ANS involvement)
Peripheral Vestibular System: Functions
- Stabilization of visual images on the fovea of the retina during head movement to allow clear vision 2. Maintain postural stability especially during movement of the head 3. Provide information used for spatial orientation
Peripheral vestibular system: Apparatus in inner ear
Semicircular canals (SCC) Utricle Saccule CN VIII: Vestibulocochlear nerve
Central vestibular system: Vestibular reflexes controlled by processes in ___________.
Brainstem
Central Vestibular System connections
Connections between the vestibular nuclei, reticular formation, thalamus and cerebellum
Central Vestibular System: Role of thalamus and cortex
arousal and conscious awareness of the head and body in space
Electro-oculography (ENG): Recording eye movements
– indirect method of using electrical fields changes to estimate the position of the eyes as a function of time - Use remote electrodes lateral and above and below the eye gives a representation of yaw and pitch eye movements, but not torsional
Video-oculography (VNG):
- Recording of eye movements – direct method of estimating the position of the eyes as a function of time 2. In a typical 2D system the video signals that show the complete eye movement
Caloric Irrigation Test
Cold/Hot water or air into ear to create nystagmus. Good to have response - vestibular system is working
Purpose of rotational chair test
determine whether or not dizziness may be due to a disorder of inner ear or brain, and particularly to determine whether or not both inner ears are impaired at the same time
3 Parts to rotational chair test
Chair test
Optokinetic test
Fixation Test
T/F: Persons with inner ear disease becomes LESS dizzy than a normal person during the chair test
True
Chair test
measures dizziness (well jumping of the eyes really – called nystagmus) while being turned slowly in a motorized chair
Optokinetic Test
measures dizziness caused by viewing of moving stripes
Test for bilateral vestibular loss and central conditions
Optokinetic Test
Does patient with bilateral vestibular loss ever experience dizziness?
No
Pt. has bilateral vestibular loss and closes their eyes, what will happen?
Fall backwards
Fixation Test
measures nystagmus while the person is being rotated, while they are looking at a dot of light that is rotating with them —. Fixation suppression is impaired by central nervous system conditions and improved by bilateral vestibular loss

