Evaluation Of Postural Control Research Articles

Postural control among older adults with fear of falling and chronic low back pain

ObjectiveAltered Postural control could increase the risk of falling in older adults. Factors such as low back pain and fear of falling can be contributing factors to postural control instability. This study aimed to investigate the effect of chronic low back pain (CLBP) and fear of falling (FOF) on postural control of older adults.MethodForty-one older adults were included (27 LBP and 14 control). Among the participants, 22 people had high FOF, and 19 had low FOF based on Falls efficacy scale cut-off of ≥ 26. For postural control evaluation Center of pressure parameters (COP) of Standard deviation (Sd) of velocity, Sd of amplitude, path length and mean velocity in both Medial–lateral (ML) and Anterior–Posterior (AP) directions were measured. Mixed-model anova with two between group factor (Health status; with and without CLBP, and with high and low FES-I groups) and one within factor postural condition (four conditions with and without vision and Achill tendon vibration) was used.ResultNo significant interaction between groups (health status and FES-I) and group with condition (health status and condition or FES-I and condition) was observed for all COP parameters in both AP and ML direction. There was main effect of FES-I for all COP parameters in ML direction, with greater Sd of velocity, Sd of amplitude, path length and mean velocity in older adults with high FES-I compared to low FES-I in the ML direction.ConclusionHigh levels of FOF influenced static postural control in the ML direction. Therefore, paying attention to the lateral stability of older adults is of great importance.

Evaluation of postural control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Evaluation of postural control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Is There a Relationship between Psychological Status and Posture in Chronic Low Back Pain?

Context: Chronic non-specific low back pain (CNLBP) is a major public health. Numerous studies have evaluated the contribution of post urology in the assessment and the rehabilitation of this pathology. Nevertheless, the relationship between post urology and muscle assessment is still a subject of controversy and no clear cause and effect relationship between the two could be established. Aim: The aim of our work was to investigate the relationship between post urological and muscular assessments in patients with CNLBP. Methods: It’s about an observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study. The muscle assessment included Quadriceps Femoris flexibility using the heel-to-buttock distance and Hamstrings flexibility using the popliteal angle. Isometric muscle strength of the extensor and flexor muscles of the trunk was assessed by the Biering-Sorensen test and the Shirado test, respectively. The evaluation of static postural control was performed by the SATEL® force platform in two conditions (opened eyes/closed mouth) and (closed eyes/closed mouth). The selected parameters were S (mm2), XY (mm), X (mm), Y (mm), support (%), and Romberg Quotient (RQ). The chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used to assess differences between categorical variables, and means were compared using Pearson's or Spearman's correlation tests depending on the distribution of the variables. Comparison between qualitative and quantitative variables was done by ANOVA test for normally distributed variables and Mann-Whitney or Kruskall-Wallis tests for non-normally distributed data. Results: Forty patients were included. The study of muscle flexibility according to force platform parameters showed that left Hamstring stiffness was significantly correlated with XY (p=.037) and with instability in the sagittal plane (p=.036). On the other hand, the stiffness of the anterior rectus muscles (right and/or left) was significantly correlated with XY (p=0.019 for the right muscle and 0.011 for the left muscle) and with postural instability in the frontal plane (p=.015 for the right muscle and .026 for the left muscle). We also founded a significant association between the increase in Romberg quotient and right Hamstring stiffness (p=.003). Conclusions: Our study as well as literature findings suggest that the Quadriceps Femoris and the Hamstrings play have a significant role in core stability of patients with chronic non-specific back pain. However, the origin of the population is also an important factor in the postural evaluation. A larger number of patients and a control group would have made it possible to establish a cause- effect relationship between Quadriceps Femoris, Hamstrings and static postural control abnormalities.

Transcranial direct current stimulation suggests not improving postural control during adapted tandem position in people with Parkinson's disease: A pilot study

BackgroundBalance impairments in people with Parkinson's disease (PD) demonstrated mainly in challenging postural tasks, such as increased body oscillation may be attributed to the deficits in the brain structures functionality involved in postural control (e.g., motor cortex, midbrain, and brainstem). Although promising results, the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on postural control in people with PD is unclear, especially in objective measures such as the center of pressure (CoP) parameters. Thus, we analyzed the effects of a single session of tDCS on the CoP parameters during the adapted tandem position in people with PD. MethodsNineteen people with PD participated in this crossover, randomized, and double-blind study. Anodal tDCS was applied over the primary motor cortex in two conditions of stimulation (2 mA/active and sham) on two different days for 20 min immediately before the postural control evaluation. Participants remained standing in an adapted tandem position for the postural control assessment for 30 s (three trials). CoP parameters were acquired by a force plate. ResultsNo significant differences were demonstrated between stimulation conditions (p-value range = 0.15–0.89). ConclusionsOur results suggested that a single session of tDCS with 2 mA does not improve the postural control of people with PD during adapted tandem.

Comparison of Dynamic Postural Control in Youth Athletes with and without a History of Lateral Ankle Sprain : A Case-control Study

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to compare the dynamic postural control of youth athletes with and without a history of lateral ankle sprains. METHODS Twenty-eight youth athletes (14 lateral ankle sprain, 14 healthy control) participated in this study. All participants answered the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure questionnaire and were subject to the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) for dynamic postural control evaluation to collect the joint angles of the lower extremity, a center of pressure (COP) path, and COP velocity. Independent sample t-test or Mann-Whitney U-test were performed to analyze the difference between the groups. RESULTS The lateral ankle sprain group (LAS) was found to have a long experience in participating in sports, and low Foot and Ankle Ability Measure scores were identified when compared to the healthy control (CON; p<0.05). LAS was observed with a short reach distance, less hip flexion, and dorsiflexion angles during the anterior direction of SEBT when compared to CON (p<0.05). Furthermore, LAS showed a slower anteroposterior and mediolateral center of pressure velocities in the posteromedial aspect of SEBT and a slower anteroposterior COP velocity in the posterolateral aspect of SEBT when compared to that of CON (p<0.05). There were no differences between the groups with respect to the other variables (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Based on these results, decreased anterior reach distance of SEBT may be affected by changing the dynamic posture control strategy of the lower extremity joint on the sagittal plane in LAS.

Anxiety sensitivity, stress, and postural control: their implications on archery performance in 11–14-year-olds

Purpose.Archery, a sport based on individual performance, requires postural stability,oncentration and the ability to cope with stress. The effect of stress on success, however, is not clear in the adolescent age group. The present study investigates the association between stress and trait anxiety levels and postural control and shooting performance in young adolescent archers.Methods.Included in the study were a total of 22 licensed archers (6 female; 16 male) aged between 11 and 14 who were evaluated using the ‘Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3’ and ‘Trier Social Stress Test’ (child version, arithmetic component) to measure their trait anxiety status and susceptibility to stress, respectively. Stress was measured based on the number of heartbeats per minute. An evaluation of static postural control was made using a pedobarography device before arrow release, with and without subjecting the archer to stress. To assess performance, 10 arrows were shot at a target 18 metres away, twice – before and after subjecting the participant to stress.Results.Postural control showed no significant change under stress. However, the participants’ trait anxiety status inversely correlated with shooting success. Post-stress shooting scores correlated with total ASI-3 score (<i>r</i> = –0.513; <i>p</i> = 0.021) and its social sub-group (<i>r</i> = –0.634; <i>p</i> = 0.003).Conclusions.A moderately inverse correlation can be noted between the trait anxiety state and shooting success in young adolescent archers subjected to stress. Furthermore, stress was observed to have a detrimental effect on the shooting success of people with a high level of trait anxiety.

Lacunes may worsen cognition but not motor function in Parkinson's disease.

As one of the imaging markers of cerebral small vessel disease, lacunes has received little attention. The objective of this study was to investigate the associations of lacunes, cognition and motor function in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and whether these associations are independent of other imaging markers. Patients were consecutively included from April 2019 to July 2022 in Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital. All patients underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging scans, clinical scale evaluations, and neuropsychological tests, as well as quantitative evaluation of postural control. To eliminate the possible factors contributing to cognition and motor dysfunction in patients with PD, in particular white matter hyperintensities and enlarged perivascular space in the basal ganglia, multivariate linear regression models were constructed to sort out the effect of lacunes. Ninety-four patients were included in this study, 56 without lacunes and 38 with lacunes. Patients with lacunes showed shorter disease duration, slower gait speed and spent more time on Trail-Making Test part A (TMT-A) than those without lacunes. The number of lacunes were positively correlated with the time to complete the TMT-A and negatively related to gait speed. Multivariate linear regression models showed that the presence of lacunes was associated with longer TMT-A time after adjusting for potential confounders. Lacunes were independently associated with worse visual scanning, attention, and processing speed in patients with PD. In addition, lacunes may accelerate the course of PD. Early treatment of vascular disease provides an alternate way to mitigate some motor and cognitive dysfunction in patients with PD.

The impact of cerebral small vessel disease burden and its imaging markers on gait, postural control, and cognition in Parkinson's disease.

This study aimed to investigate how cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) burden and its imaging markers are related to alterations in different gait parameters in Parkinson's disease (PD) and whether they affect attention, information processing speed, and executive function when global mental status is relatively intact. Sixty-five PD patients were divided into the low CSVD burden group (n = 43) and the high CSVD burden group (n = 22). All patients underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging scans, clinical scale evaluations, and neuropsychological tests, as well as quantitative evaluation of gait and postural control. Multivariable linear regression models were conducted to investigate associations between CSVD burden and PD symptoms. Between-group analysis showed that the high CSVD group had worse attention, executive dysfunction, information processing speed, gait, balance, and postural control than the low CSVD group. Regression analysis revealed that greater CSVD burden was associated with poor attention, impaired executive function, and slow gait speed; white matter hyperintensity was associated with slow gait speed, decreased cadence, increased stride time, and increased stance phase time; the presence of lacune was associated only with poor attention and impaired executive function; enlarged perivascular space in the basal ganglia was associated with gait speed. CSVD burden may worsen gait, postural control, attention, and executive function in patients with PD, and different imaging markers play different roles. Early management of vascular risks and treatment of vascular diseases provide an alternate way to mitigate some motor and cognitive dysfunction in PD.

Motion sickness and postural control among Danish adolescents

ObjectiveEasily available clinical tests to evaluate postural control are needed. Furthermore, motion sickness (MS) and postural control are correlated. The aims of this study were to compare the internal validity of a set of clinical tests of postural control with the internal validity of static posturography and to evaluate possible associations between postural control and MS. MethodsWe included healthy subjects from a primary school in Denmark who completed questionnaires about MS and underwent two rounds of clinical tests of postural control and static posturography using a Tetrax Interactive Balance System two weeks apart. For clinical tests of postural control, subjects were observed for up to 30 s standing on both legs, on one leg, on a pillow both with their eyes open and again with their eyes closed. ResultsTwenty-one subjects were included: 71% males with an average age of 13.7 years. Agreement rates ranged from 62% to 95% between test and retest in clinical tests.; lowest for subjects standing on their non dominant leg with their eyes open and highest for subjects performing Romberg's test with their eyes closed along with subjects standing on a pillow with their eyes open. For several of these tests, almost all subjects were able to hold their balance for the full 30 s. Test-retesting using static posturography by Bland Altman plot showed datapoints scattered equally above and below the mean line indicating no systematic bias. Results of clinical tests and static posturography were not associated. MS was reported from 43% of subjects and a trend was observed with high sway scores from subjects suffering from MS. This was statistically insignificant. ConclusionsDue to a ceiling effect, subjects achieved the same scores in both rounds of testing in several of the clinical tests, reducing the clinical importance of these tests. Compared to clinical tests, static posturography seemingly remains the superior method when it comes to evaluation of postural control, although not as easily applicable in a daily clinical setting. When comparing MS and postural control a trend was observed, indicating higher sway scores in subjects suffering from MS.

Evaluation of postural control in children with increased femoral anteversion

BackgroundFemoral anteversion is defined as the angular difference between the axis of the femoral neck and the transcondylar axis of the knee and the most common cause of an in-toe gait in children. Research questionDoes increased femoral anteversion (IFA) adversely affect postural stability and balance in healthy children? MethodsSixteen children with IFA aged 10–15 years and an age-matched control group of 16 children who were growing typically were included. Postural stability (PS), limits of stability (LoS), and the modified clinical test of sensory integration of balance (mCTSIB) were used to evaluate postural control by "Biodex Balance System® (BBS)" and Balance Error Scoring System (BESS), which is a visual observation of instability in 3 stance positions under 6 different conditions, were performed for all cases. SPSS v.20 program was used for data analysis. Independent Samples T-test or Mann Whitney U test were used for between-group comparisons depending on the distribution properties of the data. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. ResultsA significant difference was found between the groups for overall and anterior/posterior stability index in PS (p < 0.05), all parameters of LoS (p < 0.05) and mCTSIB (p < 0.05). Also there was a significant difference between the BESS firm surface (p = 0.007), BESS foam surface (p < 0.001), and total surface scores (p < 0.001). SignificanceThe results indicate that the children with IFA were significantly more unstable in all parameters of BBS and BESS when compared to their healthy peers. This shows that postural stability and balance are impaired in healthy children with IFA. To the extent of our knowledge, this study is the first to examine the postural control problems associated with IFA in healthy children.

Correlation of eccentric strength of the knee extensors and knee proprioception with dynamic postural control.

It is important for clinicians and researchers to perform dynamic postural control evaluation for predicting musculoskeletal conditions, injury prevention, and rehabilitation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship (1) between the eccentric strength of the knee extensors and star excursion balance test (SEBT), and (2) between the knee proprioception and SEBT. Forty healthy young adults participated in this study. The eccentric peak torque (EPT) of the knee extensors, joint position sense, and force sense were measured. The participants also performed SEBT. Pearson's product-moment correlation and multiple linear regression analysis were used to determine the relationship between the variables and SEBT. The posteromedial direction of the SEBT was positively and strongly correlated with EPT (r= 0.74, P< 0.01). The anterior and posterolateral directions were positively and moderately correlated with EPT (r= 0.46, P< 0.01, and r= 0.69, P< 0.01, respectively.). However, knee proprioception was not correlated with all the directions of SEBT (P> 0.05). According to the results of multiple linear regression analysis, EPT of the knee extensors significantly predicted SEBT reach distances. The eccentric strength of the knee extensors seems to be an essential factor in dynamic postural control. However, the knee proprioception did not show a significant correlation with SEBT.

The effects of ankle Kinesiotaping on postural control in healthy taekwondo athletes

Background and Study Aim. Although Kinesiotape is widely used by athletes, information about its effect is unclear. Its effect on postural control might directly affect an athlete's performance. In this study, it is aimed to find out whether ankle Kinesiotaping in taekwondo athletes affects postural control.&#x0D; Material and Methods. Twenty-four healthy university students – taekwondo athletes (12 females, 12 males) were included in the study voluntarily (Age 21.00 ± 1.53 years; height 173.33 ± 7.29 cm; body weight 63.41 ± 9.41 kg). Kinesiotape was carried out to the dominant ankle of the participants. Kinesiotape was applied supportively to peroneus longus, peroneus brevis, and tibiofibular ligament. All participants were taken to postural control measurements twice with Kinesiotape (KT) and without KT. Postural control was measured using the Biodex Balance System with eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC). Overall Stability Index (OSI), anterior-posterior sway (AP) and medio-lateral sway (ML) scores were used in the evaluation of postural control. Wilcoxon test was used to compare balance scores under EO condition, and the t-test was used for dependent groups to compare balance scores under EC condition.&#x0D; Results. In EO condition, no significant difference was found between OSI, AP, and ML scores of the taekwondo athletes with KT and without KT (p &gt; 0.05). In EC condition, no significant difference was found between OSI, AP, and ML scores of male taekwondo athletes with KT and without KT (p &gt; 0.05). It was found that Kinesiotape in EC condition decreased OSI and AP sway scores in female taekwondo athletes (p &lt; 0.05).&#x0D; Conclusions. It was determined that ankle Kinesiotaping of taekwondo athletes did not change the postural balance in EO condition. In EC condition it did not change the postural sway of male taekwondo athletes, but it improved the postural control performances of female taekwondo athletes.

IS THERE A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PAIN, LIMITS OF STABILITY AND SENSORY INTERACTION BALANCE IN PATIENTS WITH LUMBAR DISC HERNIATION? A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Objectives: Lumbar Disc Herniation (LDH) is a disorder causing pain and somatosensory loss. Although the association between pain and postural control in chronic low back pain is known, the relationship between pain and sensory problems with postural control is unknown in LDH, which is one of the most serious conditions among diseases. The purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between pain severity, Limits of Stability and Sensory Interaction Balance in patients with LDH. &#x0D; Methods: A total of 119 LDH patients, 64 of whom were women and 55 were men, were included in this cross-sectional study. Pain severity and postural control of the patients was measured by using Visual Analog Scale and Biodex Balance Device, respectively. Limits of Stability and Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction Balance tests were used for postural control evaluation.&#x0D; Results: The results of our study indicated that pain and disability were positively correlated with sensory interaction balance (p0.05).&#x0D; Conclusions: In patients with LDH, the sensory interaction balance was negatively affected by the increased pain and disability level, while LOS was not. Therefore, in addition to reducing pain and disability, approaches to increase the balance of sensory interaction should be adopted in physiotherapy programs of these patients.

Bilateral vestibulopathy and disabling vertigo: A CARE case series

IntroductionThe term bilateral vestibulopathy (BV) was recently defined by the Bárány Society. Loss of otolith function was not included in their criteria. Although spontaneous progression to complete bilateral impairment of vestibular function is expected, it is unlikely that patients with advanced BV will continue to present episodes of intense vertigo. Here, following CARE case report guidelines, we report the case of patients meeting the criteria for BV and still disabled by vertigo. Case seriesThree patients evaluated in our department meeting the Bárány criteria for definite BV but still complaining of disabling rotatory vertigo were included. All underwent clinical and instrumental vestibular examination. The observations are reported. ConclusionIn case of BV, the conservation of a stable otolithic reference frame could allow patients to optimize postural strategy. It would be useful to revisit a classification of BV by stages, by introducing an evaluation of otolithic function and postural control for possible subsequent vestibular implantation.

The effect of latin dance on dynamic balance

BackgroundFigures and movements in Latin dance are effectively used to provide posture stabilization and balance control. A Computerized Dynamic Posturography can be used to complete a functional evaluation of postural control and stability in static and dynamic conditions, mediated by the interaction between the visual, vestibular, and somatosensory systems. Research QuestionAccording to the results of Computerized Dynamic Posturography, do dancers have better postural control and stability when compared to non-dancers, and can dance activity be recommended for vestibular rehabilitation? Material and methodsOur study included 26 professional Latin dancers and 26 non-dancers as a control group whoboth had no problems with their hearing or balance. Pure-tone audiometry and Computerized Dynamic Posturography tests were applied to the participants. The test results for the professional dancers and the control group were compared and evaluated. In statistical analysis, the Mann-Whitney U and Independent Samples T tests were used. A value of p < 0.05 was accepted for significance. ResultsAccording to the results of the Computerized Dynamic Posturography, the dancers generally performed better than the control group. While statistically significant and better performances were observed in dancers in terms of the composite balance, visual and vestibular scores within the scope of the Sensory Organization Test (p < 0.05), no statistically significant difference was found for somatosensory and preference scores (p > 0.05). Also, significant differences were obtained between the two groups in some subtests of Adaptation, Unilateral Stance and Limits of Stability assessment (p < 0.05). No significant difference was observed in Rhythmic Weight Shift results (p > 0.05). ImportanceThe results of thisresearch demonstrate that balance and posture improve through dance. Therefore, adding appropriate dance activities to vestibular rehabilitation programmes might be helpful.

The Impact of Parkinson's Disease on Postural Control in Older People and How Sex can Mediate These Results: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Parkinson’s disease is most prevalent among elderly people, 65 years and over, and leads to an alteration in motor control associated with postural instability. Current evidence shows that postural control decreases with the aging process. In addition, postural control is more altered in healthy aged men than in women. Until today, few studies have evaluated the combined impact of Parkinson’s disease and sex on postural control. This review has allowed to evaluate the impact of Parkinson’s disease and sex on postural control measurements in elderly people. Methodology: Studies have been selected from two main databases: PubMed and EBSCO using the keywords “Parkinson”, “postural control OR balance” and “sex”. Articles related to the evaluation of postural control, including men and women with Parkinson’s aged over 65 years old, regardless of stage, were included (n = 179). Articles were excluded if not written in French or English or not presenting original content. Results: Ten (10) studies out of 179 that fulfilled inclusion and exclusion criteria were reported in the final analysis, which cumulates a total of 944 individuals with Parkinson’s (410 women). In general, results show greater postural instability among people with Parkinson’s compared to healthy subjects, and this according to different objective measurements using stabilographic parameters from force platforms. Only two studies out of ten evaluated postural control while briefly considering distinctions between sex, but without showing a significant difference between men and women with Parkinson’s. Parkinson’s severity, length of time of Parkinson’s disease and cognitive state of the person are the three variables with a negative impact on postural control. Conclusion: Older people with Parkinson’s disease have greater postural instability. Sex does not seem to influence the postural control of elderly people with Parkinson’s, although more studies are necessary.

Evaluation of dynamic postural control during single-leg landing tasks using initial impact force, landing leg stiffness and time to stabilisation

ABSTRACT Time to stabilisation (TTS) provides limited information to evaluate the dynamic postural control for individuals with functional ankle instability in single-leg landing task. More information is needed to understand TTS and evaluate the dynamic postural control better. The purpose is to develop a method estimating TTS, initial impact force (IIF) and landing leg stiffness (LLS) through fitting ground reaction force (GRF) decay in single leg landing with exponential vibration decay function (EVDF), and investigate effects of landing directions and GRF components on these parameters. Thirty-nine healthy participants were recruited. EVDF was used to fit GRF decays in different single-leg landings. TTS, IIF, and LLS were compared across landing directions and GRF components. The mean regression determinants of fitting GRF decays with EVDF were greater than 0.50. TTS was sensitive to GRF components (P = 0.041 females, P = 0.028 males). IIF was sensitive to GRF components (P = 0.001) for both genders. LLS was sensitive to GRF components (P = 0.023) for males. This method showed a moderate to strong feasibility for reporting GRF decay during landing, and provided movement characteristic information for better understanding of dynamic postural control together with TTS during landing.

Reliability and Validity of the Six Spot Step Test in People with Intellectual Disability.

Clinical tests for the evaluation of balance in people with intellectual disability that have been most commonly used depend on the subjective evaluation of the evaluator, easily reach the ceiling effect and are poorly sensitive to small changes; but new tests have been developed, such as the Six Spot Step Test. The aim of this study was to determine the validity and within-day and day-to-day test–retest reliability of the Six Spot Step Test in people with intellectual disability. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 18 people with intellectual disability. The participants conducted the Six Spot Step Test three times and a set of five clinical tests for the balance assessment. The relative reliability was excellent (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) = 0.86 − 0.97), and the absolute reliability ranged between 4.7% and 7.3% for coefficient variation and between 0.6 and 1.2 for the standard error of measurement. Linear regression models showed that that test can explain the results of the Timed Up & Go, Four Square Step Test and the Berg Balance Scale. The Six Spot Step Test proved to be as valid and reliable for the evaluation of dynamic balance in people with intellectual disability as the most frequently used tests for the clinical evaluation of postural control.

A Langevin-Based Model With Moving Posturographic Target to Quantify Postural Control.

Falls are a major concern of public health, particularly for older adults, as the consequences of falls include serious injuries and death. Therefore, the understanding and evaluation of postural control is considered key, as its deterioration is an important risk factor predisposing to falls. In this work we introduce a new Langevin-based model, local recall, that integrates the information from both the center of pressure (CoP) and the center of mass (CoM) trajectories, and compare its accuracy to a previously proposed model that only uses the CoP. Nine healthy young participants were studied under quiet bipedal standing conditions with eyes either open or closed, while standing on either a rigid surface or a foam. We show that the local recall model produces significantly more accurate prediction than its counterpart, regardless of the eyes and surface conditions, and we replicate these results using another publicly available human dataset. Additionally, we show that parameters estimated using the local recall model are correlated with the quality of postural control, providing a promising method to evaluate static balance. These results suggest that this approach might be interesting to further extend our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of postural control in quiet stance.

Accelerometric Assessment of Postural Balance in Children: A Systematic Review.

The correct development of postural control in children is fundamental to ensure that they fully reach their psychomotor capacities. However, this capacity is one of the least studied in the clinical and academic scope regarding children. The objective of this study was to analyze the degree of implementation of accelerometry as an evaluation technique for postural control in children and how it is being used. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, SpringerLink, SportsDiscus, Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science with the following terms: balance, postural control, children, kids, accelerometry, and accelerometer. Results: The search generated a total of 18 articles. Two groups of studies were differentiated: those which exclusively included healthy individuals (n = 5) and those which included children with pathologies (n = 13). Accelerometry is being used in children mainly to assess the gait and static balance, as well as to identify the differences between healthy children and children with developmental disorders. Conclusions: Accelerometry has a discrete degree of implementation as an evaluation tool to assess postural control. It is necessary to define a systematic method for the evaluation of postural control in pediatrics, in order to delve into the development of this capacity and its alterations in different neurodevelopmental disorders.