Índice de estabilidade para avaliação do equílibrio postural / Index of stability from avaliation of the postural equilibrium

ABSTRACT

Some stabilometric parameters are known to be influenced by anthropometric characteristics. The purpose of this study was to determine an index of postural stability free from these influences. Stabilometry was used with unipodal and bipodal supports to a group of 24 men and 39 women, with right dominate leg. Three stabilometric tests of 60 seconds cach (sampling rate of 50 Hz) were applied in a randomic order: right and left foot support and feet together. The elliptical area (área), the mean power frequency (f) and mean velocity (v) of the centre of pressure were calculated for the lateral (x) and anterior posterior (y) displacements. For each parameter an index of stability was determinated by the rate of the unipodal and bipodal tests. There was no statistical difference between right and left foot for men and women. The results of area and mean velocity were higher for men. Stature was positive correlated with area and velocities and negative with frequency. All the indexes calculated bad no correlation with anthropometric values and resulted in no differences between sexes.