Athletic Training & Sports Medicine Center

 
 

Examination Links:

  • Alphabetical Listing
    of Examinations
  • Head
  • Cervical Spine
    • Spurling's Test
    • Distraction
    • Quandrant
    • Tinels' Sign
  • Thoracic Spine
    • Sagittal Plane ROM Test
    • Frontal Plane ROM Test
    • Transverse Plane ROM Test
  • Lumbar Spine
    • Straight Leg Raise Test
    • Sciatic Nerve Palpation Test
    • Bowstring Test
    • Slump Test
  • Shoulder
    • Apley Scratch Test
    • Apprehension Test
    • Relocation Test
    • Anterior Instability Test
    • Anterior/Posterior Translation
       Test
    • Sulcus Sign
    • Posterior G-H Instability Test
    • Inferior Drawer (Feagin) Test
    • Neer Impingement Test
    • Hawkins Kennedy
      Impingement Test
    • Empty Can Test
    • Internal Rotation Strength
      Test
    • External Rotation Strength
      Test
    • Glenoid Labrum Clunk Test
    • Andrews Anterior Instability
      Test
    • Anterior Drawer
    • Posterior Drawer
    • Prone Posterior Instability Test
    • Push Pull Test
    • Apprehension Test
    • Fulcrum test
    • Jerk Sign or Jahnke Test
    • Load & Shift Test
    • Acromioclavicular Joint
      Stability Test
    • Cross Chest 
      (Horizontal Adduction) Test
    • Sternoclavicular Joint 
      Integrity Test
    • Speed's Test
    • Gilcrest's Palm-Up test
    • Drop Arm Test
    • Drop Sign
    • External Rotation Lag Sign
    • Internal Rotation Lag Sign
    • Gerber Lift-Off Test
    • O'Brien Test
    • Yergason Test
    • Biceps Load Test I
    • Biceps Load Test II
    • Winging Scapula Test
    • Adson Maneuver
    • Allen Test
    • Roo's Test
    • Halstead's Test
  • Elbow & Radioulnar
    • Valgus Test 00
    • Valgus Test 300
    • Valgus Test 900
    • Miking Sig
    • Cross Arm Valgus
       Stress Test
    • Varus Test 00
    • Varus Test 300
    • Tinel Sign
    • Lateral Compression Test
    • Valgus Extension Overload
    • Cozen Test
    • Mills Test
    • Distal Radioulnar Instability 
      Test
  • Wrist
    • Finkelstein's Test
    • Anatomical Snuff Box
      Compression Test
    • Phalen's Test or Wrist Press Test
    • Tinel Sign
  • Hand & Fingers
    • Murphy's Signr
    • Boutonniere Deformity Test
    • Mallet Finger Test
    • Flexor Digitorum Superficialis
       Test
    • Flexor Digitorum Profundus
       Test
    • Gamekeeper's Thumb Test
    • MCP Radial Collateral 
      Ligament Stress Test
    • MCP Ulnar Collateral 
      Ligament Stress Test
    • PIP Radial Collateral 
      Ligament Stress Test
    • PIP Ulnar Collateral 
      Ligament Stress Test
    • DIP Radial Collateral 
      Ligament Stress Test
    • DIP Ulnar Collateral 
      Ligament Stress Test
    • Bunnel-Littler Test
    • Retinacular Test
    • Allen Test
  • Sacroiliac Joint
    • Ipsilateral Prone Kinetic Test
    • FABER Test
    • Passive Extension & Internal 
      Rotation of Ilium on Sacrum
    • Passive Flexion & External 
      Rotation of Ilium on Sacrum
    • Passive External Rotation 
      of Hip
    • Pelvic Rocking Test
    • Gapping Test
    • Prone Gapping (Hibb's) Test
    • Approximation Test
    • Squish Test
      Sacroiliac Rocking Test
    • Sacral Apex Pressure Test
    • Torsion Stress Test
    • Femoral Shear Test
    • Superoinferior Symphysis
      Pubic Stress Test
    • Piedallu's Sign
    • Flamingo Maneuver or Test
    • Gaenslen's Sign
    • Mazion's Pelvic Maneuver
    • Yeoman's Test
    • Sit-up Test
  • Hip & Thigh
    • Scouring (Quandrant) Test
    • FABER Test
    • Trendelenburg Test
    • Craig's Test
    • Torque Test
    • Stinchfield Test
    • Thomas Test
    • Pirifomis Test
    • Sign of the Buttock
    • Ely's Test
    • Hamstring Contracture Test 1
    • Tripod Test
    • 90-90 Straight Leg Test
    • Phelp's Test
  • Knee
    • Anterior Drawer
    • Gravity Sign
    • Active Posterior/Anterior 
      Drawer Test
    • Posterolateral Drawer Test
    • Lachman
      • Tradiional
      • Thigh Assisted
      • Drop Leg
      • Table Side
      • Table End
      • Prone
      • Active
    • Posterolateral Drawer Test
    • Figure 4 Palpation
    • McMurray's Test
    • Apley's Grind Test
    • Lateral Compression Test
    • Medial Compression Test
    • Jerk Test of Hughston
    • Pivot Shift Test
    • External Rotation 
      Recurvatum Test
    • Quadriceps Active Test
  • Lower Leg
    • Heel Tap Test
    • Homan's Sign
    • Squeeze Test
    • Thompson Test
  • Ankle
    • Anterior Drawer
    • Cotton Test
    • Eversion Stress Test
    • Inversion Stress Test
    • Kleiger Test
    • Squeeze Test
    • Wedge Test
  • Foot
    • Morton Test
    •  
  • Range of Motion
  • Goniometry
  • Manual Muscle Testing
  • Reflexes
  • Vital Signs
  • Body Composition

 

Rhomberg Test
Examination type Balance and Coordination
Patient & Body Segment Positioning Stand with feet together, arms by side, eyes open
Examiner Position The examiner can stand in front of or behind the patient but should have his arms beside the patient’s sides to catch him in case the patient loses balance during the test.  May require spotters to help catch patient on both sides.
Tissues Being Tested Cranial nerve VIII (acoustic or vestibulocochlear nerve); cerebellum
Performing the Test Have the patient stand with eyes open for 20 seconds while watching for problems with balance.  Next, have the patient close his or her eyes and stand for another 20 seconds, again watching for any problem with balance.
Positive Test Observing any loss of balance, swaying, facial expressions suggesting difficulty in maintaining posture/position, inability to stand, or patient falling to one side.
Interpretation Intracranial hemorrhage or expanding intracranial lesion; may also indicate possible disease of posterior columns of spinal cord or proprioceptive problems
Common errors in performing exam It is important to be prepared to catch the patient if he or she is unable to balance.  Always test the patient with the eyes open before progressing to testing with the eyes closed.
Factors possibly resulting in misinterpretation May also indicate possible disease of posterior columns of spinal cord or proprioceptive problems.
Related tests Walk or stand in tandem, Neurological control test for upper and lower limbs
References Magee, David J. (2002). Orthopedic Physical Assessment. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier.
Links:

http://endeavor.med.nyu.edu/neurosurgery/coordination.html

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