DIZZINESS-UNTERBERGER STEPPING TEST

SUMMARY

1. Test used in otolaryngology to help assess whether a patient has a vestibular pathology. It is not useful for detecting central disorders of balance.

2. In the original work by Fukuda, 500 normal subjects were blindfolded and asked to extend both arms and march in place for 50 to 100 steps.

3. The maximum rotation noted was 30^o to either side with 50 steps.

4. Deviation of greater than 30^o about the vertical axis suggested asymmetrical labyrinthine function with the weaker side identified by the direction of rotation.

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I., Furmedge, D. and Sinharay, R. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Get it on Amazon.
Feather, A., Randall, D. and Waterhouse, M. (2020). Kumar And Clark’s Clinical Medicine. 10th ed. S.L.: Elsevier Health Sciences. Get it on Amazon.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].