Postural balance in young adults: The role of visual, vestibular and somatosensory systems

Gaerlan, Mary Grace; Alpert, Patricia T.; Cross, Chad L.; Louis, Margaret; Kowalski, Susan

doi:10.1111/j.1745-7599.2012.00699.x

Cited by 128 publications

(95 citation statements)

References 23 publications

(24 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…During double-leg or single-leg standing, it is necessary to use an integration of visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive inputs to plan and fulfill motor commands for maintaining the COG within the limits of the base of support (31). It has been shown that the vision inputs are important in short test duration and more destabilizing conditions (32). The results of the current study revealed higher postural sway in eyes closed condition than in eyes open condition when comparing different somatotypes.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 52%

Endomorphs Show Higher Postural Sway Than Other Somatotypes Subjects

Samaei

Bakhtiary

Hajihasani

2014

Middle East J Rehabil Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background:The somatotype may influence the balance control ability. The quality of balance performance is an important factor to prevent injuries during sport activities. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of somatotype on the static and dynamic balance indices as well as falling risk index. Patients and Methods: A total of 141 university student healthy young females were recruited. We measured anthropometric somatotypes (10 parameters, Heath-Carter's method) and the mean of center of pressure (COP) displacement on a Biodex balance system during unilateral (static balance indices) and bilateral standing (dynamic balance indices) with their eyes open and eyes closed. Results: In this research, the frequency of somatotypes was as follows: endomorph, 51; mesomorph, 43; and ectomorph, 47. During dynamic tests, the endomorph group showed significantly higher COP sway (P < 0.01) and falling risk index (P < 0.05) than other somatotype groups did. The mesomorph group showed significantly better postural control during dynamic balance control test with eyes closed (P < 0.05) in comparison to the other somatotype groups. Conclusions:The mesomorph subjects had a higher degree of static and dynamic balance control, while a lower degree of balance control was found among endomorph subjects, especially when standing on the unlocked balance platform with both eyes open and eyes closed.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 52%

Endomorphs Show Higher Postural Sway Than Other Somatotypes Subjects

Samaei

Bakhtiary

Hajihasani

2014

Middle East J Rehabil Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This shows that the group with diabetes relies more on their vision in controlling their body balance than using the vestibular system or somatosensory system because vision predominated the inputs of both systems in maintaining body balance in normal situations. 13 This may justify why they did not learn new strategies to control their body sway using tactile stimulation with the eyes open. This is probably an adaptation used by subjects with diabetes to overcome sensory loss and vestibular loss.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…10 Visual impairment impacts body balance because the vision is a strong contributor to body balance and predominates the somatosensory and vestibular input. 13 From 60% to 70% of patients with diabetes suffer from peripheral neuropathies. Peripheral neuropathy affects sensory and/or motor function.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Tactile Intervention as a Novel Technique in Improving Body Stability in Healthy Elderly and Elderly with Diabetes

Alshammari

Petrofsky

Daher

et al. 2014

Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Body sway increases in the elderly because of normal aging and high incidence of disease such as diabetes. Prevalence of sway is greater in the elderly with diabetes because of damage to the central and peripheral nervous systems. Increase in body sway is associated with an elevated risk of falling. Falling is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the elderly. The purpose of this study was to develop a new technique to improve body stability and decrease body sway in the elderly people with or without diabetes. Subjects and Methods: Twenty-two subjects-12 elderly (mean age, 75.5 -7.3 years) and 10 age-matched elderly with diabetes (mean age, 72.5 -5.3 years)-were recruited for this study. Subjects received tactile feedback as a tingling sensation resulting from electrical stimulation triggered by body sway. Results: The results showed a significant reduction in body sway in the elderly while standing on foam with eyes open (1.0 -0.31 vs. 1.9 -0.8; P = 0.006) and eyes closed (1.8 -0.7 vs. 3.3 -1.5; P = 0.001). In the group with diabetes, there was a significant reduction in body sway while standing on foam with eyes closed (1.4 -0.5 vs. 2.3 -0.8; P = 0.045) but not with eyes open. Conclusions: In this small study, this technique offers a new tool for training people with diabetes and elderly people to improve body stability and balance.

show abstract

“…BBS 9 (retrieving object from floor) and BBS 10 (turning to look behind) have been shown to be above-average difficulty tasks [4]. Both confound to a degree the visual and vestibular systems, the primary systems of balance [34]. In addition, common strategies for retrieving objects from the floor involve bending from the waist, which requires gluteal strength, or bending at the knee, which requires quadriceps strength-both muscles significantly weakened after lower-limb amputation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of balance ability and confidence in prosthetic use for mobility of people with lower-limb loss

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract-For people with lower-limb loss, impaired balance is common and limits prosthetic function within the community. This cross-sectional study (1) analyzed relationships among prosthetic use for mobility, balance ability and confidence, and amputation-related variables and (2) determined multivariate models to identify level of prosthetic use. Subjects included 46 community-dwelling adults (mean age 56.2 yr) with limb loss (91.3% unilateral) of varied levels (52.2% transtibial) and etiologies (69.6% vascular). A three-variable linear regression model including balance ability, balance confidence, and years since amputation explained 63.7% of variance in the Houghton scale of prosthetic use score. A logistic regression model including the 14-task Berg Balance Scale, balance confidence, years since amputation, age, and number of comorbidities correctly differentiated between people who had reached a satisfactory level of prosthetic use or not 89.1% of the time. The first three variables demonstrated moderate accuracy with positive likelihood ratios from 2.34 to 4.35. The regression model was further reduced to correctly classify 87.0% of cases with three balance ability tasks (retrieving objects from floor, turning to look behind, and placing alternate foot on stool), balance confidence, and numbers of comorbidities. Logistic models that include balance ability, balance confidence, and numbers of comorbidities can identify level of prosthetic use in people with lower-limb loss. Increased balance confidence and ability when retrieving objects from floor, turning to look behind, and placing alternate foot on stool were most indicative of successful prosthetic use for mobility.

show abstract

Postural balance in young adults: The role of visual, vestibular and somatosensory systems

Cited by 128 publications

References 23 publications

Endomorphs Show Higher Postural Sway Than Other Somatotypes Subjects

Endomorphs Show Higher Postural Sway Than Other Somatotypes Subjects

Tactile Intervention as a Novel Technique in Improving Body Stability in Healthy Elderly and Elderly with Diabetes

Role of balance ability and confidence in prosthetic use for mobility of people with lower-limb loss

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About