Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-12T21:39:56.328Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A simple technique to measure body sway in normal subjects and patients with dizziness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

N. J. Roland
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Walton Hospital, Liverpool.
C. A. Smith
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Walton Hospital, Liverpool.
I. W. Miller
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Walton Hospital, Liverpool.
A. S. Jones
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Walton Hospital, Liverpool.
T. H. Lesser*
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Walton Hospital, Liverpool.
*
Address for correspondence: Mr T. H. Lesser, Consultant Otoneurologist, ENT Department, Walton Hospital, Rice Lane, Liverpool, Merseyside

Abstract

For many years vestibular testing has relied on measurements of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). More recently quantified assessment of balance, using fixed or moving force platforms and magnetometry have been applied to clinical research. These are objective attempts to quantify the vestibulospinal reflex (VSR). This study evaluates whether SwayWeigh, a simple device which measures lateral body sway, can provide an objective assessment of balance dysfunction. Forty patients with a balance disorder and 31 subjects with normal balance were tested with eyes opened and eyes closed whilst they were standing on a flat surface and then on an air bed. The lateral sway in patients with a balance disorder was compared to that in the normal subjects and highly significant differences (p<0.0001) were observed. The results also confirmed the importance of vision and proprioception in the maintenance of posture.

The Sway Weigh balance platform is a simple and economical device which objectively measures balance dysfunction.

Type
Main Articles
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aalto, H., Pyykko, I., Starck, J. (1988) Computerized posturography. a development of the measuring system. Acta Otolaryngologica (Stockholm) 449: 7175.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Barre, J. A. (1949) Epreuve de Romberg vestibulaire. Nouveau Traditional Médicine 15: 105.Google Scholar
Black, F. O., Nashner, L. M. (1984) Vestibulospinal control differs in patients with reduced versus distorted vestibular function. Acta Otolaryngologica (supplementum) 404: 110114.Google Scholar
Dean, E. M., Gnffiths, C. J., Murray, A. (1986) Stability of the human body investigated by sway magnetometry. Journal of Medical Engineering and Technology 10: 126130.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dc Haan, P. (1959) The significance of optic stimuli in maintaining equilibrium. Acta Otolaryngologica 50: 109115.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Diener, H. C., Dichgans, J., Bacher, M., Gompf, B. (1984) Quantification of postural sway in normals and patients with cerebellar diseases. Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology 57: 134142.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Duchenne, G. B. A. (1858) De l'ataxie locomotrice progressive. Recherches sur une maladie caracterisee specialment par des troubles generaux de Ia coordination des mouvements. Archives Générales de Médicine 641652.Google Scholar
Fernie, G. R., Holliday, P. J. (1978) Postural sway in amputees and normal subjects. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery 60: 895898.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
FitzGerald, J. E., Murray, A.. Elliot, C.. Birchall, J. P. (1993) Comparison of balance assessment by sway magnetometry and force platforms. Archives of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery 119: 4146.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jansen, C., Laesen, R. E., Olesen, M. B. (1982) Quantitative Romberg's test. Acta Neurologica Scandinavia 66: 9399.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kapteyn, T. S., Bles, W., Njiokiktjien, Ch. J., Kodde, L., Massen, C. H., Mol, J. M. F.. (1983) Standardization in platform stabilometry being a part of posturography. Agressologie 24(7): 321326.Google ScholarPubMed
Kayan, A. (1987) Diagnostic tests of balance. In Scott-Brown's Otolaryngology. Vol. 2, chap. 9, Adult Audiology. 5th Edition. (Kerr, A. G., Stephens, D., eds.), Butterworths, London.Google Scholar
Nashner, L. M. (1977) Fixed patterns of rapid postural responses among leg muscles during stance. Experimental Brain Research 30: 1324.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nashner, L., Black, F. O., Wall, C. (1982) Adaptation to altered support and visual conditions during stance: patients with vestibular deficits. Journal of Neuroscience 2: 536544.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Norre, M. E., Forrez, G. (1986) Vestibular function in otoneurology. Journal for Otolaryngology and its Allied Specialties 48: 3744.Google ScholarPubMed
Norre, M. E. (1993) Sensory interaction posturography in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Clinical Otolarygnology 18: 226230.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Romberg, M. H. (1846) Lehrbuch der Nenvenkrankheiten des Menschen, A. Duncker, Berlin.Google Scholar
Sheldon, J. H. (1963) The effect of age on the control of sway. Geientologica Clinica 5: 129138.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Terekhov, Y. V. (1974) A system for the study of man's equilibrium. Biomedical Engineering 10: 450478.Google Scholar
Thyssen, H., Brynskov, J., Jansen, E. C., Munster-Swendsen, J. (1982) Normal ranges in the reproducibility for the quantitative Romberg test. Acta Neurologica (Scandinavica) 66: 100104.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Weerdt, W., Crossley, S. M., Lincoln, N. B., Harrison, M. A. (1989) Restoration of balance in stroke patients: a single case design study. Clinical Rehabilitation 3: 139147.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wing, A. M., Allison, S., Jenner, J. R. (1993) Retaining and retraining balance after stroke. In Bailliere's Clinical Neurology. vol. 2(1); Rehabilitation of Motor Disorders. (Ward, C. D., ed.), Bailliere–Tindall, London, pp 87120.Google Scholar