Abstract
To assess vestibular deficits in response to disequilibrium in ambulatory individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ambALS).All participants completed standard protocols for the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) by computerized dynamic posturography.Multidisciplinary amyotrophic lateral sclerosis clinic at an academic medical center.Study participants (N=34) consisted of ambALS (n=19) and healthy controls (HC) (n=15).Not applicable.Equilibrium scores (ESs) obtained from averaged sway amplitude in condition 5 (ES5) and condition 6 (ES6) of the SOT.In conditions of altered somatosensory information with vision absent or vision sway-referenced, the mean ± SD scores for ambALS (ES5=51.4±22.5; ES6=50.8±22.1) were lower than those for HC (ES5=65.4±11.7, P≤.03; ES6=58.9±12.5, P>.05). Seven ambALS (37%) experienced a total of 19 falls during the sway-referenced support test conditions. There were no falls in the HC.Nearly 37% of ambALS with normal clinical balance testing have decreased ability to use the vestibular input and required increased reliance on visual input for postural orientation to sustain equilibrium. The mechanism of this alteration in sensory preference is not completely clear. Extrapyramidal involvement early in ALS may be indicated.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
