JPE Resource

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Handout for clinicians

Joint Position Error (JPE) Test Printable PDF

The Joint Position Error (JPE) test is a clinical tool used to assess cervical proprioception—specifically, a patient’s ability to accurately relocate their head to a neutral position after active movement. Often used in cases of dizziness, neck pain, or suspected cervicogenic dizziness, the test involves a laser pointer mounted on the head and a fixed target to measure repositioning accuracy. It may help identify sensorimotor impairments that may contribute to symptoms and can guide targeted rehabilitation.

Download the Joint Position Error (JPE) Test PDF today and help to objectively measure your patient’s recall accuracy.

Step-by-Step Guide: Joint Position Error (JPE) Test

 

Equipment Needed

  • Laser pointer mounted to a headband or visor

  • Printed JPE target

  • Chair without headrest

  • Darkened room (optional, to enhance laser visibility)

  • Optional: blindfold 

Setup and Administration

  1. Seat the patient with the center of axis of rotation to the target (the crown of the head) 90 cm from the wall.
  2. Place a laser headlamp on the patient’s head and instruct the patient to adjust the headlamp on their head until they feel that the laser light is centered and eye level for them.
  3.  Place the target on the wall so that the center of the target aligns with the laser light.
  4. Ask the patient to close their eyes and then move their head in a single direction (options: left, right, up, or down) as far as they can comfortably. Then while still keeping their eyes closed, the patient should attempt to return their head to the center (start position) before opening their eyes to check how they performed.
  5. The patient indicates when they believe they are aligned before opening their eyes. Record their result as abnormal or normal.
  6. Have the patient perform sufficient trials (usually at least 3-5) for each direction, seeking a consistent result of either abnormal or normal overall for each of the 4 directions. 

Interpretation

  •  At a distance of 90 cm away from the target, errors of > 4.5 degrees (7 cm) are likely to be significant 

For visual instructions, download the Joint Position Error (JPE) Test PDF today.