ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to evaluate balance functions as one ages using the values of the sensory organization test (SOT) and the motor control test (MCT) of computerized dynamic posturography (CDP) in healthy Korean adults. METHODS: We studied the equilibrium scores of the SOT and weight symmetries, latencies, and adaptation scores of the MCT in 72 healthy Korean adults. Subjects were divided into three age groups, the 30's (young group), 50's (middle-aged group), and 70's (elderly group). RESULTS: In the SOT, the range of mean equilibrium scores was from 69.8 to 94.2 in the 3rd decade group, 62.6 to 93.8 in the 5th decade group, 59.2 to 91.2 in the 7th decade group. In the MCT, during sudden anterior and posterior perturbations, the weight symmetries were 101.1 +/- 7.5 in the 3rd decade group, 103.6 +/- 6.9 in the 5th decade group, and 106.4 +/- 9.4 in the 7th decade group. The mean latencies were 123.6-132.8 msec in the 3rd decade group, 130.5-138.5 msec in the 5th decade group, 132.7-141.8 msec in the 7th decade group. CONCLUSIONS: Almost all measures of balance were significantly worse in the elderly group compared with the young group and some changes of balance were observed in the middle-aged group as well. These significant age-associated declines of balance function suggested the decreased capacity to process sensory inputs in aged persons. This occurs most likely as a result of biomechanical or central processing changes.
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Humans , AgingABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It is important to adequately estimate the functional handicap of the patient with polyneuropathy. Computerized dynamic posturography (CDP) can be utilized in those patients to evaluate balance performance. But, so far, the majority of data are about sensory organization test (SOT) and the efficacy of motor control test (MCT) is not established. We performed this study in an attempt to estimate balance function in diabetic neuropathy patients using MCT, thereby confirm the usefulness of MCT in evaluating balance ability. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seventeen diabetic neuropathy patients (DM-NP), 9 non-neuropathy diabetic patients (DM-nonNP), and 22 non-diabetic normal persons as controls (nonDM) were included in this study. Postural responses to horizontal translation were assessed according to the MCT paradigm. The results were compared with the sway energy obtained during toes-up or toes-down perturbation. RESULTS: Latencies of backward translation were prolonged in DM-NP but not in DM-nonNP. Latencies of forward translation were prolonged both in DM-NP and DM-nonNP. No definite correlation could be drawn between the MCT and EMG latencies. DM-NP showed increased sway energy in toes-up and toes-down perturbation. MCT latencies and sway energy in perturbation showed significant correlation. CONCLUSION: MCT proved to be useful in evaluating balance performance in the patients with defective postural response as in diabetic neuropathy.
Subject(s)
Humans , Diabetic Neuropathies , PolyneuropathiesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study normal values of wnwry organimtion test(SOT) and motor control test(MCT) of computerized dynamic posturography(CDP) in the healthy Koreans. BACKGROUND: Balance is made up of three biological functions ; sensory input, motor output, and CNS integration. But, there has been no method for assessing the sensory, motor, and CNS integration function quantitatively. CDP is a tool for assessing the balance function quantitatively under a variety of tasks. METHODS: To assess the balance using CDP, I studied equilibrium score(ES) of SOT and weight symmetry, latency, and adaptation seems of MCT in 112 Korean healthy population. Arbitarily I divided the population into two groups, under 60 years and over 60 years of age. In SOT, I studied the contribution of each sense to maintaining equilibrium when other senses were either absent or provided with inaccurate information. MCT provoked autonomic postural reactions through a series of sudden anterior and posterior support surface translations. In MCT, I studied latencies in sudden translation of fact plate. RESULTS: The study group was 112 Korean healthy population with a mean age of 47 +/- 26 years. In SOT, the range of median equilibrium seems were from 68 to 93 under 60 years group, 58 to 91 over 60 years group. In MCT, during sudden anterior and posterior pertubation, weight symmetries were 101 +/- 24.8 under 60 years group and 104 + 30. 1 over 60 years group. Median latencies were 116 to 141msec under 60 years, 127 to 130msec over 60 down test of MCT the mean adaptation scores were 60 years. 64 to 75 and 48 to 73 over 60 years, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study could be a baseline control data in sensory, motor, and CNS integration function of balance in dizziness patient using CDP.