biodex BioSway Operation Manual page 71

CONTENTS
a note about ctSIb report InterpretatIon.
Normal individuals have significantly more sway when standing on a foam surface versus a
firm surface with eyes open, and even more sway on foam with eyes closed. However they do
not become unstable or fall. Patients who become unstable or fall when standing on foam with
eyes open may have difficultly using visual information for balance control and or they may
have lower extremity musculoskeletal problems, which make it difficult to stand on the foam or
compensate for the unstable surface.
NOTE: Caution should be used when interpreting the CTSIB test results. The test is assumed to reflect
sensory integration deficits. However, standing on the foam surface provides a biomechanical challenge as
well as a sensory one. Patients with ankle or foot weakness, joint restrictions, or pain will have difficulty
standing steadily on the foam and will produce high sway scores. In these patients it is not valid to
assume sensory abnormalities are the sole cause of abnormally increased sway. Sensory problems may be
present, but cannot be distinguished from the motor problems. Ideally patients should be screened for
motor problems (central and musculoskeletal) prior to administration of the CTSIB. Only in patients
without motor involvement can increased sway clearly be assumed to indicate sensory system deficits.
One effective way to screen for motor deficits is to administer the LOS test prior to the CTSIB test, as the
LOS test measure voluntary movement.
Reference: Clinical Operations Guide, Neurocom® International, Inc. June 2008
— D-3 — APPENDIX D