Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 17, 2026
Lower Limb Biomechanical Analysis of Healthy Participants
Published on: April 15, 2020
Evaluation and interpretation of the bucket test in healthy individuals
Erika Celis-Aguilar1, Angel Castro-Urquizo1, Juan Mariscal-Castro2
1a Department of Otolaryngology , Hospital Civil de Culiacán, CIDOCS, Autonomous University of Sinaloa , Culiacan , Mexico.
Objective:
To determine and interpret the range of normal deviation of the bucket test in healthy subjects Subjects and methods: Study design: Cross-sectional study in a secondary care center.
Inclusion Criteria:
subjects ≥18 years old with no otologic or neurologic symptoms and normal complete neuro-otological examination. The subjective visual vertical was evaluated binocularly using the bucket test. Five measurements were made on the clockwise direction and five on the counterclockwise direction. The examiner selected the starting point, the patient then manipulated the bucket and it stopped when the volunteer considered the line reached the vertical position.
Results:
Fifty healthy volunteers were included, 16 (32%) were men, and 34 (68%) women with a mean age of 34 years. The mean value found clockwise was 1.93° ± 2.26° and counterclockwise sense was of 0.86° ± 2.44°. Mean normal values ranged from 1.4° ± 1.9°.
Conclusions:
The bucket test is easy and quick to perform; we recommend to use a range of -1.0° to +3.0° as normal values in the healthy population.
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Monitoring Both Arms:
Monitoring BP in both arms during the initial assessment is advisable, as the systolic value may differ by five to ten mm Hg between arms. For subsequent BP assessments, use the arm with the higher reading.