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Table 4 Review of previous studies with the use of the “bucket test” in patients with vestibular pathologies and in healthy volunteers

From: The bucket test reinterpreted: a study on benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and Ménière’s disease patients

 

Normal subjects

Vestibular compromised subjects

Study

n

Normal range

Condition

n

Deviation range

Condition

Interpretation of values

Zwergal et al. (2009) [1]

30

Binocular: 0° ± 2.3°

Normal subjects

30

Binocular: 8.3° ± 5.0° (3.3° to 11.3°)

Peripheral or central vestibular lesion

The examiner rotates the bucket.

They used mean ± 2 SD.

Does not specify which side is positive or negative.

Monocular: 0° ± 2.5°

Monocular: 8.7° ± 5.0° (3.7° to 11.7°)

Cohen et al. (2012) [3]

50

1.2° (0.75° to 3.2°) a

Normal subjects

25

2.1° (1.5° to 6.0°) a

BPPV (posterior)

The examiner moved the bucket.

Degrees were read off on the outside scale by the examiner.

They used mean but do not use SD.

25

2.1° (1.7° to 7.5°) a

Unilateral vestibular weakness

Does not specify which side is positive or negative.

Compare the values of the normal side against the abnormal side of the subject.

Sun et al. (2014) [15]

51

0° ± 2.0° *

Normal older adults

0

---

The examiner rotated the bucket.

A clockwise rotation of the vertical from the perspective of the subject was designated as a positive deviation.

Chetana et al. (2015) [4]

0

0° ± 2.0° *

Normal subjects

100

Range: 2.0° to 7.0° **

Vestibular neuritis, BPPV, Ménière's disease, Labyrinthitis

The subject holds the bucket.

The examiner rotated the bucket.

Compare the values of the normal side against the abnormal side of the subject.

Do not specify mean values of each pathology

(Do not use negative values).

Ferreira et al. (2015) [16]

M = 50

2.00° ± 0.80°

(1.2° to 2.8°)

Normal subjects

 

---

The bucket was rotated by the examiner

The angular inclinations were measured in degrees and defined as positive deviations in the clockwise and negative in the anti-clockwise direction, in relation to the volunteer.

W = 50

1.65° ± 0.63°

(1.02° to 2.28°)

Celis et al. (2017) [2]

50

1.4° ± 1.9°

(-0.5° to 3.3°)

Normal subjects

 

---

Degrees were read off on the outside scale by the examiner.

To the right of the examiner is positive (Left of subject).

Oliva et al. (2017) [17]

43

1.57° ± 1.17°

(0.4° to 2.74°)

Normal subjects

32

3.48° ± 1.73°

(1.75° to 5.23°)

Peripheral vestibular pathology

Patients with abnormality in caloric tests.

Conventional bucket test was performed and compared with computer interface.

Ferreira et al. (2017) [18]

 

---

 

20

2.8° ± 1.1°

(1.7° to 3.9°)

BPPV

The bucket was rotated by the examiner.

The bucket test was performed after the Epley maneuver and the mean value was: 1.6°.

Sapountzi et al. (2017) [6]

0

0° ± 2.0° *

Control group

40

5.57° ± 1.11°

(4.46° to 6.68°)

BPPV

It does not specify who manipulates the bucket test.

They do not consider negative numbers (affected side).

Michelson et al. (2018) [19]

15

− 0.86° ± 3.97°

(− 4.83° to 3.11°)

Normal subjects

 

---

 

The bucket was rotated by the examiner.

Negative numbers refer to the patient’s right.

The same patients underwent a virtual test resulting in − 0.48° ± 2.51°.

  1. * Preset value in the study as normal range. ** The range implies 85% of all subjects with abnormal SVV
  2. SVV, subjective visual vertical; n, subjects considered for the sample; M, men; W, women
  3. BPPV benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. a Mean (range: from minimum to maximum values)