Computerized Analysis of Postural Instability in Parkinson's Disease

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and quantify the postural instability in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) using computerized posturography. METHOD: Twenty subjects with PD group (10 men, 10 women) and 20 control group (10 men, 10 women) were matched for age and sex. Average Hoehn-Yahr stage of PD group was 2.3+/-0.3. Sensory dysfunction, voluntary motor impairments and functional limitation were measured by determining the subject's response to reduced or altered sensory and voluntary motor control of balance. RESULTS: PD subjects demonstrated wider area of sway (degrees) under eye closed condition in modified sensory organization test and lower directional control (%) in right/left rhythmic weight shift (p<0.05). No significant difference was observed for sit to stand. Wider area of turn sway (degrees) and longer turn time (sec) during left step/quick turn were demonstrated in PD subjects (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Computerized posturography shows that sensory dysfunction scores, voluntary motor impairment scores and functional limitation test scores were reduced in patients with PD.

Comparison of Postural Control Measures between Older and Younger Adults Using Balance Master System

OBJECTIVE: Postural control ability is one of determinant factors of falls in older adults. The purpose of this study was to determine if age affected postural control measures in Balance Master system. METHOD: Forty-four healthy adults (22 men, 22 women) were divided into two groups; younger (20 to 29 years) and older (60 to 69 years) groups. All participants were tested by Balance Master system. A total 5 measurements were analyzed to determine the difference between older and younger group. RESULTS: Older adults demonstrated wider area of sway (o) under condition (eye closed on foam surface) in mCTSIB, low directional control (%) in slow front/back rhythmic weight shift, and low on-axis velocity (o/sec) in fast front/back rhythmic weight shift (p<0.05). Right/ Left weight symmetry (%) during sit to stand was significantly higher in older groups (p<0.05). Wider area of turn sway (o) and longer turn time (sec) during step/ quick turn were demonstrated in older groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results showed that the postural control ability measured by Balance Master system was reduced in the older adults. Further studies should be carried out to correlate this reduction with the falls in healthy elderly.