Accession Number:

AD0743074

Title:

Revised Normative Standards of Performance of Men on a Quantitative Ataxia Test Battery,

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

NAVAL AEROSPACE MEDICAL RESEARCH LAB PENSACOLA FL

Personal Author(s):

• Fregly, Alfred R.
• Smith, Margaret J.
• Graybiel, Ashton

Report Date:

1972-03-15

Pagination or Media Count:

19.0

Abstract:

Revised normative standards of performance of men, ages 16-60 years, on a quantitative ataxia test battery in terms of new chronological age groupings based on a sample of 1055 normal men are presented. Five age groups-- 16-30, 31-40, 41-45, 46-50, and 51-60 years--were found to be required to reduce the correlation with age to a nonsignificant level. All subtests of the battery, except Walk On Floor Eyes Closed WOFEC, were very nearly similar in sensitivity to aging influences, implying a reliably unitary sensitivity of the battery to aging influences on the complex postural equilibrium functions sampled by it. Present findings tentatively suggest that the negative aging influences become appraent several years earlier than reported previously within the age range of 31-40 years rather than 43-50 years. The progressive nature of this aging influence along the life span sampled is similar to that previously reported on women. The new normative standards should allow more precise laboratory and clinical applications of the test battery which has proved to be useful particularly in the vestibular physiological and neuro- otological assessment of postural equilibrium-disequilibrium, including spontaneous and induced vestibular ataxia. The test battery has other clinical andor research applications. Author

Descriptors:

• *VESTIBULAR APPARATUS
• *NEUROMUSCULAR TRANSMISSION
• *EQUILIBRIUM(PHYSIOLOGY)
• PERFORMANCE(HUMAN)
• AGING(PHYSIOLOGY)
• STANDARDS
• PHYSICAL FITNESS
• MUSCLES

Subject Categories:

• Anatomy and Physiology

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE