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Romberg's test - how to do and interpretation

 INTRODUCTION 
Romberg's test is done to assess the integrity of the dorsal columns of the spinal cord.

It is not a test to assess the cerebellar function.

The test was first described by Moritz Heinrich von Romberg who found that patients with tabes dorsalis (neurosyphilis) often complained of increased unsteadiness in the dark.

The test should be performed in all patients who complain of dizziness, imbalance or falls to rule out sensory ataxia.


 HOW TO DO THE TEST? 
The test is done by requesting the patient to keep his feet firmly together, arms by the side and the eyes open at first. The balance of the patient is noted.
Now the patient is asked to close both eyes and the balance is now noted for around 1 minute. The physician should stand in front of the patient with his arms extended on either side of the patient but not touching him. This is done as the latter may fall.

 INTERPRETATION 
1) If with the eyes open, the balance is not good then there may be a problem with the cerebellum. This condition is called as cerebellar ataxia.
2) If closing the eyes causes a much worse balance then the test is said to be positive (Romberg test positive). It indicates that the patient is excessively reliant on his vision to maintain balance. The problem may lie in the vestibular or proprioceptive systems.

The physiology behind this test is that to maintain balance we need at least 2 of the following 3 components:
1) vision,
2) proprioception and
3) vestibular function.
In simple words. . .If a patient has a vestibular problem then with his eyes open he can maintain balance because his proprioception as well as vision is helping him. But now if he closes his eyes, then there is only proprioception to maintain balance and that is not sufficient. So the patient will sway and may fall.

The same is true for someone with a problem of proprioception. With his eyes open, the patient can maintain balance because he is using his normal vision and vestibular apparatus. But when he closes his eyes, he is only relying on his vestibular function now and thus he will sway and may fall.

 COMMON CAUSES OF POSITIVE ROMBERG TEST: 
1) Vitamin B12 deficiency - Subacute combined degeneration of the cord,
2) Diabetic peripheral large fibre neuropathy,
3) Friedrich's ataxia,
4) Tabes dorsalis.

 N.B 
1) The test may be positive in some patients who are having some motor disorders.
2) If the unsteadiness is due to anxiety then we can divert the patient's attention, e.g. by having him touch the index finger of each hand alternately to his nose while standing with eyes closed.
3) Patients with authentic proprioceptive problems will sway when their gaze is diverted from the ground and the situation worsens when the eyes are closed.
4) Patients with factitious unsteadiness, usually will remain stable when their gaze is diverted from the ground e.g. if they are looking at the ceiling or a distant object and then become very unsteady when the eyes are closed.

Last reviewed on : 1 September 2015
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Comments

  1. Patrick Suckoo, DCSeptember 20, 2015 at 5:13 AM

    stenosis in the lumbar spine can cause a positive Romberg too....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousAugust 1, 2017 at 7:22 AM

      Unlikely, posterior column is in the spinal cord, there is no spinal cord in most of the extent of lumbar spine . The cord usually ends between D12 and L1.

      Delete
  2. Public Health & PhysiotherapyJuly 29, 2019 at 8:53 AM

    Thank you for nice clarification with easy & simplify Languag.

    ReplyDelete

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