Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026
06:28
Screening People on Standing Balance with Romberg Testing and Walking Balance with Tandem Walking
Published on: September 1, 2023
The modified Romberg Balance Test: normative data in U.S. adults.
Yuri Agrawal1, John P Carey, Howard J Hoffman
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA. yagrawa1@jhmi.edu
Summary
Standing balance declines with age, increasing fall risk. A modified Romberg Test identifies individuals over 60-69 years at higher risk, with less than 20 seconds indicating a 3-fold fall increase.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Public Health
Background:
- Postural stability is crucial for preventing falls in older adults.
- Normative data for balance tests are essential for clinical interpretation.
- The modified Romberg Test assesses standing balance on different surfaces.
Purpose of the Study:
- Generate normative values for the modified Romberg Test stratified by age, sex, and race/ethnicity.
- Determine the association between modified Romberg Test performance and fall risk.
- Provide clinicians with data for interpreting patient balance assessments.
Main Methods:
- National cross-sectional survey of 5,086 U.S. adults aged 40+ (2001-2004 NHANES).
- Assessed time to failure on the modified Romberg Test of Standing Balance on firm and compliant surfaces.
- Collected data on history of falling in the previous 12 months.
Main Results:
- Time to failure on the modified Romberg Test decreased with increasing age across all demographic groups.
- Performance below 20 seconds on the test was associated with a >3-fold increase in odds of falling.
- Individuals generally fell below the 20-second threshold between ages 60-69 years.
Conclusions:
- Nationally representative normative values for the modified Romberg Test were established.
- Significant differences in performance decline rates were observed across demographic groups.
- The test effectively demonstrates fall risk, aiding clinical decision-making for postural assessment.
