Sway amplitude during foam and dome test in typical young adults

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Balance is one of the most important components for an individual to be in a good state of health condition. The functional balance is most important for the individual to maintain the equilibrium, and the characteristics of the task may increase or decrease the difficulty of the balance component. There is a need to obtain normative sway variabilities (angle, distance, and frequency) in different planes among young adults, which may be used in clinical and sports for balance evaluation and training.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Repetitive measure design was used to identify the normative values of foam and dome test on the typical young adults. The sway variabilities of the typical young adults were evaluated through standardized foam and dome test. The anterior-posterior (AP) and mediolateral sway angle and distance were measured using Kinovea software at six phases on a postural grid and results were analyzed using range, mean, and standard deviation.RESULTS: Seventy-six participants, 50 females and 26 males were recruited (mean age 21.5 ± 15 years). The mean sway angle with eyes open (EO), eyes closed (EC), with dome, on foam with dome, on foam with EO, on foam with EC in AP plane was 4.15 ± 1.57, 8.09 ± 2.56, 10.47 ± 2.88, 18.42 ± 4.27, 9.15 ± 2.22, and 17.6 ± 5.38,°, respectively. The mean sway results were consistent in similarity with the angle, and frequency.CONCLUSION: The study concludes that the sway amplitude values obtained using foam and dome test showed that the angle, distance, and the number of sways increase with the alteration in the sensory input.