Table 1 Descriptions of clinical outcome measures

Dizziness

Numerical rating scale (NRS11)

Participants were asked to rate their dizziness experiences ‘today’ with 0 indicating no dizziness and 10 very severe dizziness.

0–10

Dizziness

Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI)

DHI is a comprehensively validated measure of disability due to dizziness from a range of causes [48], and has demonstrated responsiveness to chiropractic interventions in older people [30].

0–100

Neck pain

NRS11

Participants were asked to rate their neck pain experience ‘today’ from 0 (no pain) to 10(very severe pain).

0–10

Neck pain

Neck disability index (NDI)

NDI is a 10 item questionnaire reporting pain and difficulties with everyday activities [49].

0–100

Quality of life

SF12

SF12 is a 12-point questionnaire that gives two combined scores: a physical component score (PCS) and a mental component score (MCS).

PCS: 0–50

MCS: 0–50

Mood

Disability Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS21)

DASS contains 21 questions that report depression, anxiety and stress symptoms within the past week. Each component is scored separately. Interpretation is as follows: depression normal 0–4, moderate 5–8, severe 9–12 extremely severe 13–21; anxiety normal 0–3, moderate 4–6, severe 7–9, and extremely severe 10–21; stress normal 0–6, moderate 7–11, severe 12–16, and extremely severe 17–21 [50].

Depression 0–21

Anxiety 0–21

Stress 0–21

Concerns of falling

Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I)

FES-I is a 16 item questionnaire measuring the level of concern of falling undertaking activities and routines [51].

16–64

Cognitive function

Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)

MoCA is a 10-min screening assessment for cognitive impairment. The domains are: attention and concentration, executive functions, memory, language, visuo-constructional skills, conceptual thinking, calculations, and orientation.

0–30

Physical function, mobility and balance

Step test

The number of times a person can repeatedly step one foot up and down on and off a standard 7.5 cm height step in 15 s [52]. Both feet were tested and a combined score was used.

Number of steps.

Timed Up and Go (TUG)

A measure of the time taken to stand up from a standard height armchair, walk a distance of three metres, turn, return and sit back down in the chair [53].

The time taken in seconds.

Functional reach

The distance an individual can reach forward with their dominant arm extended at horizontal, while standing. This is scored with the difference between starting reach and furthest reach in centimetres [54].

The distance in centimetres.

Four-square step test

The time taken to step in a sequence of forward, to the left, backwards and to the right, and then reversed. Each step is performed over an obstacle to increase difficulty [55].

The time taken in seconds.