What indicates a positive Romberg's test result?

A positive Romberg's test result indicates that the patient sways or loses balance when standing with their feet together and their eyes closed. This test is commonly used to assess proprioception and vestibular function, as it evaluates the patient's ability to maintain balance without visual input. When a patient sways or falls, it suggests a deficit in their proprioceptive or vestibular system, indicating that their balance is heavily reliant on visual cues. Thus, this loss of balance in the presence of closed eyes is a key indicator of a potential neurological or vestibular issue.

The other options do not accurately reflect what constitutes a positive result in this test. For example, if a patient can balance with their eyes closed, it indicates normal proprioception and vestibular function, which would not be a positive test. Similarly, successfully standing on one leg or exhibiting smooth movements does not directly assess the balance without visual input and therefore does not provide the necessary information related to the Romberg's test.