Knowledge Base

Purpose: The test is conducted to estimate the tone of large and medium buttock muscles, evaluate the risk of falling of elderly people, as well as assess the body balance and related symptoms.

Execution protocol: The patient stands in front of the complex by extending his legs by the width of his shoulders (10 – 12 cm) arms are lowered along the body. The patient should be asked to stand on one leg, without indicating which leg and how high the knee should be raized. The patient will choose a more stable leg, and the other leg will lift to a comfortable height. The test is 20 seconds for closed eyes and 40 seconds for open eyes.

Results evaluation: If the center of gravity has changed its position by more than 10 cm, the test is not passed.

Posture instability or active work with the toes of the supporting leg (you may ask to take off the shoes for the test) may indicate instability of the foot or lack of stability in the supporting leg with possible delay of the large buttock muscle.

Rotation of the raised foot or pelvis also indicates a decrease in the strength of the large buttock muscle.

Note the Trendelenburg symptom (i.e., if the pelvis is lowered or raised) is a symptom of a decrease in the strength of the median buttock muscle. In addition to true muscle weakness (due to their dystrophy), a positive Trendelenburg symptom is found in congenital hip dislocation, polio, injury of a spinal nerve roots (upper buttock nerve paralysis – L5 level) or a large spit fracture (distal attachments of the middle buttock muscle).

Take note of the chest movement and breathing when performing the test: raising the chest or holding breath may indicate poor performance of the ISS internal stabilizing subsystem (consisting of 4 muscles: aperture, transversal abdomin, multifidus and pelvic bottom).

If the patient’s eye was not directly in front of him during the sample, it may indicate cervical post-trauma (eye muscle fasciculation).