Romberg test

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Romberg test
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Purpose Assessing proprioception and neurological function
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The Romberg test is a neurological examination used to assess an individual's balance and proprioception. It is named after the 19th-century German neurologist Moritz Heinrich Romberg.

Procedure[edit | edit source]

The test is performed by having the patient stand with their feet together, arms at their sides, and eyes closed. The examiner observes the amount of sway and the ability to maintain an upright posture. A positive Romberg test occurs when the patient sways or falls when their eyes are closed, indicating a loss of proprioceptive control.

Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]

The Romberg test is primarily used to assess the integrity of the dorsal columns of the spinal cord, which are responsible for proprioception. A positive test suggests a dysfunction in the proprioceptive pathways, which may be due to conditions such as tabes dorsalis, peripheral neuropathy, or vitamin B12 deficiency.

Conditions Associated with a Positive Romberg Test[edit | edit source]

Interpretation[edit | edit source]

A positive Romberg test indicates a sensory ataxia due to a loss of proprioceptive input. It is important to differentiate this from a cerebellar ataxia, where the patient will have difficulty maintaining balance even with their eyes open.

History[edit | edit source]

The test was first described by Moritz Heinrich Romberg in the 19th century. Romberg was a pioneer in the field of neurology and his work laid the foundation for many modern neurological assessments.

See Also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  • Romberg, M. H. (1846). Lehrbuch der Nervenkrankheiten des Menschen. Berlin: Duncker.
  • Bastian, H. C. (1893). "On the so-called 'Romberg's symptom' and its value as a sign of disease of the nervous system." Brain, 16(1), 1-25.


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