Objectives: To determine if timed balance scores on the modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction and Balance (CTSIB) were affected by shoe wear in patients with balance and vestibular disorders and to determine if there is a difference in correlation with the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) or in the sensitivity or specificity based on footwear.
Design: Prospective correlational trial.
Setting: Outpatient clinic.
Participants: Thirty persons (mean age, 63+/-17 y) currently undergoing vestibular physical therapy (PT).
Intervention: All subjects completed the modified CTSIB with their shoes on and off at the end of a PT session; 16 of them (53%) also completed the SOT on the same day.
Main outcome measures: Scores on the modified CTSIB and SOT.
Results: No difference existed between scores on the modified CTSIB with shoes on versus off. Similar correlation was found between the modified CTSIB performed with the shoes on and off and SOT scores. The sensitivity and specificity of the modified CTSIB was similar with shoes on and off.
Conclusions: The modified CTSIB can be performed with or without shoes, with no difference expected in patient score or test sensitivity or specificity.