Objectives/Hypothesis: Manual whole-body and head-on-body rotational testin
g of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) is comparable to conventional rotary
chair methods with and without visual fixation from 0.025 to 1 Hz, Study D
esign: Summary of four previously published trials from our laboratory(1-4)
and a fifth prospective blinded study comparing whole-body and head-on-bod
y rotation with rotational chair results from 0.025 to 1 Hz in 10 patients
with bilateral vestibular dysfunction. Methods: Subjects were fitted with s
tandard electro-oculogram (EOG) electrodes and placed in the rotary chair f
or testing at 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, and 1 Hz in the dark (VOR) and i
n the light with a stationary target (VVOR), They were then placed in an ot
olaryngology examination, chair where an adjustable headband containing the
velocity sensor and an opaque visor were placed on the forehead. Whole-bod
y rotational trials from 0.025 to 1 Hz and both passive and active head-on-
body trials from 0.25 to 1 Hz were performed with and without visual fixati
on, Data from each frequency were analyzed cycle-by-cycle and averaged for
gain, phase, and asymmetry. These values were then compared to the results
obtained during rotational chair testing, Results: Throughout the five stud
ies, no systematic differences were noted between the manual rotational met
hods and the rotary chair results. Specifically, no consistent effect of vo
lition or cervico ocular reflex (COR) enhancement was demonstrated Conclusi
ons: Manual rotational testing is a reliable technique for measuring the VO
R up to 1 ID as compared with standard rotary chair methods. Advantages to
this technique include portability, lower equipment costs, and potential ap
plication up to 6 Hz using head-on-body rotation.