Hautant Test

Hautant test has two parts and is used to differentiate dizziness or vertigo caused by articular problems from that caused by vascular problems.

How do you perform the Hautant test?

The Hautant Test has two part:

Part 1: The patient sits and asked to forward flex both arms to 90°, the eyes are then closed. This position should be held for 10 to 30 seconds. The examiner watches for any loss of arm position, if the arms move, the cause is nonvascular.

Part 2: The patient sits and asked to forward flex both arms to 90°, the patient is then asked to rotate, or extend and rotate, the neck; this position is held while the eyes are again closed for 10 to 30 seconds, if wavering of the arms occurs, the dysfunction is caused by vascular impairment to the brain.

Additional positive findings for the Hautant test may include dizziness, vertigo, nystagmus, or blurred vision. These symptoms are frequently associated with vertebral artery compromise, but many of them (dizziness, vertigo, and nystagmus) may also be attributed to vestibular problems.

See Also: Vertebral Artery Test

References & More

1. Orthopedic Physical Assessment by David J. Magee, 7th Edition.
2. Miller KJ, Sittler MD, Corricelli DM, Dimura DN, Comerford JS. Combination testing in orthopedic and neurologic physical examination: a proposed model. J Chiropr Med. 2007 Dec;6(4):163-71. doi: 10.1016/j.jcme.2007.08.003. PMID: 19674712; PMCID: PMC2647096. Pubmed
3. Meadows JJ, Magee DJ. An overview of dizziness and vertigo for the orthopedic manual therapist. In: Boyling JD, Palastanga N, eds. Grieve’s Modern Manual Therapy: The Vertebral Column. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 1994