Postural Instability In Patients Research Articles

Improvement of postural instability in patients with bilateral vestibulopathy in response to low-intensity vestibular noise stimulation

Improvement of postural instability in patients with bilateral vestibulopathy in response to low-intensity vestibular noise stimulation

Extraction of the pull force from inertial sensors during the pull test for Parkinson's disease: A reliability study.

To examine the inter- and intra-rater reliability of the pull test in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) using the extracted pull force. In this inter- and intra-rater reliability study, two raters performed a pull test on 30 patients with PD. The pull force was quantified using inertial sensors attached to the rater's right hand and the patient's lower trunk. In this study, the pull force was calculated as an extracted three-dimensional vector quantity, the resultant acceleration, and was expressed in m/s2. Inter- and intra-rater reliabilities were analyzed using the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for the pull force and Cohen's weighted kappa (κw) for the pull test score. Furthermore, Bland-Altman analysis was used to investigate systematic errors. The inter- and intra-rater reliability of the pull force was very poor (ICC = 0.033-0.214). Bland-Altman analysis revealed no systematic errors in the pull forces between the two test points. Conversely, κw for the pull test scores ranged from 0.763 to 0.920, indicating substantial to almost perfect agreement. The pull test score was reliable despite variations in the quantified pull force for inter- and intra-rater reliability. Our findings suggest that the pull test is a robust tool for evaluating postural instability in patients with PD and that the pull force probably does not affect scoring performance.

Mechanisms underlying treatment effects of vestibular noise stimulation on postural instability in patients with bilateral vestibulopathy.

Previous studies indicate that imbalance in patients with bilateral vestibulopathy (BVP) may be reduced by treatment with low-intensity noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS). To elucidate the potential mechanisms underlying this therapeutic effect. In particular, we determined whether nGVS-induced balance improvements in patients are compatible with stochastic resonance (SR)-a mechanism by which weak noise stimulation can paradoxically enhance sensory signal processing. Effects of nGVS of varying intensities (0-0.7mA) on body sway were examined in 19 patients with BVP standing with eye closed on a posturographic force plate. We assumed a bell-shaped response curve with maximal sway reductions at intermediate nGVS intensities to be indicative of SR. An established SR curve model was fitted on individual patient outcomes, and three experienced human raters had to judge whether responses to nGVS were consistent with the exhibition of SR. nGVS-induced reductions of body sway compatible with SR were found in 12 patients (63%) with optimal improvements of 31 ± 21%. In 10 patients (53%), nGVS-induced sway reductions exceeded the minimally important clinical difference (optimal improvement: 35 ± 21%), indicative of strong SR. This beneficial effect was more likely in patients with severe vestibular loss (i.e. lower video head impulse test gain; R = 0.663; p = 0.002) and considerable postural imbalance (baseline body sway; R = 0.616; p = 0.005). More than half of the assessed patients showed robust improvements in postural balance compatible with SR when treated with nGVS. In particular, patients with a higher burden of disease may benefit from the non-invasive and well-tolerated treatment with nGVS.

Static posturography analysis for postural instability in patients with Parkinson’s disease

Background Parkinson’s disease (PD) is initially characterized by a rigid-akinetic syndrome and later by the development of postural instability. This condition often leads to balance impairments, potentially resulting in postural deformities and foot asymmetry. This study aimed to assess balance changes in PD patients. Methods We evaluated 56 PD patients and 30 controls using static posturography. The variables examined included foot type, the primary region of body weight distribution on the plantar surface, statokinesigram (center of pressure [COP]), and stabilogram (COP in the X- and Y-axes). Results PD patients exhibited a high prevalence of pes cavus (92.8%) (p < 0.001) and greater weight distribution toward the hindfoot. In all assessments, COP sway areas were significantly larger in PD patients (p < 0.001). The total COP area increased in the non-fall group during the foot parallel assessment and in the X-axis in the fall group with eyes open (p = 0.046) and closed (p = 0.023). Significant correlations between body weight discharge on the plantar area and COP sway were observed, particularly in the non-postural instability group in the COP X-axis with feet parallel and eyes open on the more rigid limb and in the postural instability group in the Y-axis with feet parallel and eyes open on the more rigid limb and with eyes closed bilaterally. Conclusion Progressive rigidity may disrupt compensatory mechanisms, altering foot morphology, shifting body weight discharge posteriorly, and increasing COP sway. This cascade of events results in impaired balance and an elevated risk of falls.

Comparative efficacy of 24 exercise types on postural instability in adults with Parkinson’s disease: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

ObjectiveTo compare, rank and evaluate the 24 exercise types that improve postural instability in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD).MethodsWe searched the data in PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Cochrane library, and Web of Science from their inception date to January 23, 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that aimed at determining the effectiveness of physical activity interventions on postural instability in adults with PD. This review focused on different balance outcome categories: (a) balance test batteries (BBS); (b) static steady-state balance (sSSB); (c) dynamic steady-state balance (dSSB); (d) proactive balance (PB); (e) reactive balance (RB).ResultsAmong 10,474 records, 199 studies (patients = 9523) were eligible for qualitative synthesis. The random-effects NMA model revealed that the following exercise training modalities had the highest p score of being best when compared with control group: body-weight support treadmill training (BWS_TT) for BBS (p score = 0.97; pooled standardised mean difference (95% CI): 1.56 (0.72 to 2.39)) and dSSB (1.00; 1.53 (1.07 to 2.00)), aquatic exercise (AQE) for sSSB (0.85; 0.94 (0.33 to 1.54)), Pilates for PB (0.95; 1.42 (0.59 to 2.26)). Balance and gait training with the external cue or attention (BGT_ECA) and robotic assisted gait balance (RA_GT) had similar superior effects in improving RB. The confidence in evidence was often low according to Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis.ConclusionsThere is low quality evidence that BWS_TT, AQE, Pilates, BGT_ECA and RA_GT are possibly the most effective treatments, pending outcome of interest, for adults with PD.

Relationship between Neuroimaging Markers of Brain Injury and the Severity of Postural Instability in Patients with Chronic Cerebral Ischemia (results of the NEMAN open observational study)

Relationship between Neuroimaging Markers of Brain Injury and the Severity of Postural Instability in Patients with Chronic Cerebral Ischemia (results of the NEMAN open observational study)

Proprioceptive Focal Stimulation (Equistasi®) for gait and postural balance rehabilitation in patients with Parkinson's disease: A systematic review.

Gait and postural deficits are the most common impairments in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD). These impairments often reduce patients' quality of life. Equistasi® is a wearable proprioceptive stabilizer that converts body thermic energy into mechanical vibration. No systematic reviews have been published investigating the influences of Equistasi® on gait and postural control in patients with PD. This review aimed to examine the effects of proprioceptive focal stimulation (Equistasi®) on gait deficits and postural instability in patients with PD. PubMed, Scopus, PEDro, REHABDATA, web of science, CHAINAL, EMBASE, and MEDLINE were searched from inception to July 2021. The methodological quality of the selected studies was evaluated using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. Five studies met the eligibility criteria. The scores on the PEDro scale ranged from 3 to 8, with a median score of 8. The results showed evidence for the benefits of the proprioceptive focal stimulation (Equistasi®) on gait and postural stability in individuals with PD. Proprioceptive focal stimulation (Equistasi®) appears to be safe and well-tolerated in patients with PD. Proprioceptive focal stimulation (Equistasi®) may improve gait ability and postural stability in patients with PD. Further high-quality studies with long-term follow-ups are strongly needed to clarify the long-term effects of proprioceptive focal stimulation (Equistasi®) in patients with PD.

Onset of Postural Instability in Parkinson's Disease Depends on Age rather than Disease Duration.

Postural instability and falls are considered a major factor of impaired quality of life in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). The knowledge of the time at which postural instability occurs will help to provide the evidence required to introduce fall-prevention strategies at the right time in PD. To investigate whether postural instability of patients with different age at disease onset is associated with age or with disease duration of PD. Patients diagnosed with sporadic PD between 1991 and 2017 and postural instability (according to the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) part III, item 3.12 postural instability) were included, with strict inclusion criteria including regular follow-ups, agreement on data use, and exclusion of comorbidities affecting the free stand. Applying these strict inclusion criteria, we included 106 patients. Those younger than 50 years at PD onset took significantly longer to develop postural instability (n = 23 patients, median: 18.4 years) compared with patients with later onset of PD (50-70 years, n = 66, median: 14.2 years, p < 0.001; and >70 years, n = 17, median: 5.7 years, p < 0.001, Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Dunn's multiple comparisons test). There was no association between total MDS-UPDRS III (as a measure of motor symptom severity) at onset of postural instability. In PD, postural instability is primarily associated with the age of the patient and not with disease duration.

Comparison of Static Balance Control in Infected Htlv-1 Subjects with Different Tsp/Ham Diagnosis.

(1) Background: Tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP/HAM) associated with the T cell lymphotropic virus in type I humans (HTLV-1) is a slow, chronic, and progressive disease that causes balance changes. TSP/HAM diagnosis can be classified as probable, possible, and definite. We compared the static balance control of HTLV-1-infected patients with different TSP/HAM diagnosis. (2) Methods: Our sample consisted of 13 participants infected with HTLV-1 and 16 healthy participants. The center of pressure was recorded using a force platform with open and closed eyes. We divided the recordings into three intervals, period T1 (corresponds to the first 10 s); period T2 (from 10 to 45 s); period T3 (from 45 to 55 s). (3) Results: Eight participants infected with HTLV-1 were classified as probable TSP/HAM and five participants infected with HTLV-1 were classified as definite TSP/HAM. There was a significant increase in postural instability in patients with definite PET/MAH considering the structural and global variables of body sway compared to the control and the probable TSP/HAM. (4) Conclusions: We concluded that the severity of balance is directly related to the degree of signs and symptoms of TSP/HAM.

Effect of Proprioceptive Training with Muscle Strengthening on Postural Instability in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Effect of Proprioceptive Training with Muscle Strengthening on Postural Instability in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Effects of Low-Intensity Vestibular Noise Stimulation on Postural Instability in Patients with Parkinson's Disease.

Postural instability is a major disabling factor in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) and often resistant to treatment. Previous studies indicated that imbalance in PD may be reduced by low-intensity noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS). To investigate the potential mode of action of this therapeutic effect. In particular, we examined whether nGVS-induced reductions of body sway in PD are compatible with stochastic resonance (SR), a mechanism by which weak sensory noise stimulation can paradoxically enhance sensory information transfer. Effects of nGVS of varying intensities (0-0.7 mA) on body sway were examined in 15 patients with PD standing with eye closed on a posturographic force plate. We assumed a bell-shaped response curve with maximal reductions of sway at intermediate nGVS intensities to be indicative of SR. An established SR-curve model was fitted on individual patient outcomes and three experienced human raters had to judge whether responses to nGVS were consistent with the exhibition of SR. nGVS-induced reductions of body sway compatible with SR were found in 10 patients (67%) with optimal improvements of 23±13%. In 7 patients (47%), nGVS-induced sway reductions exceeded the minimally important clinical difference (optimal improvement: 30±10%), indicative of strong SR. This beneficial effect was more likely in patients with advanced PD (R = 0.45; p = 0.045). At least half of the assessed patients showed robust improvements in postural balance compatible with SR when treated with low-intensity nGVS. In particular, patients with more advanced disease stages and imbalance may benefit from the non-invasive and well-tolerated treatment with nGVS.

Association of Cervical Vestibular-Evoked Myogenic Potentials (VEMP) and Postural Instability in Patients with Parkinson's Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Postural instability is a common problem in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). The appropriate cooperation of vestibular, visual, and proprioceptive signals along with apt anticipatory and adaptive postural responses is essential for postural stability. Abnormalities in this sensorimotor admixture lead to postural instability in PD. The function of vestibular otolith function and its central connections in postural instability of PD is still obscure. Cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) can be used to assess the function of the saccular part of otolith and its connections. We aimed to study the role of dysfunction of the saccule and its connections at the brainstem by comparing the VEMP with normal controls and correlating it with the postural instability in patients with PD. Thirty patients with PD and 30 healthy volunteers were included in the study, after obtaining the institutional ethical committee approval. Patient's demographic data, stage and duration of illness, treatment history, history of fall, postural instability, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) score, and Non-Motor Symptoms Scales (NMSs) were noted. Cervical VEMP analysis was done for both patients and controls. Patients with absent VEMP had significant postural instability, a history of falls, and a high UPDRS score. Mean P13 and N23 latencies were prolonged, and the amplitude was significantly low in patients with PD. Absent cVEMP was significantly associated with postural instability, non-motor symptoms, especially gastrointestinal, miscellaneous symptoms, and mood/cognition. VEMP can be considered an early electrophysiological marker for dysfunction of otolith and its central connections.

Characteristics of transitional locomotor tasks performed by patients with dementia.

Elderly individuals may be at increased risk of falls than their peers. Early identification of balance disorders and their appropriate intervention are crucial for patients with dementia. The aim of this study was to identify postural instability in patients from mild to moderate dementia while performing transitional locomotor tasks under different conditions. Fifty-four patients with dementia and 30 healthy controls voluntarily participated in the study. The transitional locomotor task was performed on two force platforms under four conditions: unimpeded transition, obstacle clearance, step-up and step-down trials. The recording of center of foot pressure displacements was divided into three distinct phases: 1st phase-quiet standing before the transitional locomotor task, 2nd phase-forward stepping, 3rd phase-quiet standing after the transitional locomotor task. Patients with dementia were characterized by a longer transitional locomotor task time than the control group under all conditions (P < 0.03). Significant differences in quiet standing before the transitional locomotor task were observed between patients with dementia and the control group, but only in unimpeded transition and obstacle clearance trials (P < 0.02). No significant differences in quiet standing after step transition were observed between patients with dementia and the control group (P > 0.05). Postural control research in patients with dementia should focus on the functional motor task rather than on a simple motor task (quiet standing). Because even patients with mild dementia have impaired dynamic balance, the assessment of transitional locomotor tasks performed by patients with dementia might provide an indicator of an early diagnosis of dementia and might lead to better individualized physiotherapy.

Analysis of the correlation between neuroimaging markers of the brain damage and the severity of postural instability in patients with chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency (NEMAN open observational study)

To analyze the relationship between the severity of postural instability in patients with CCI (chronic cerebral ischemia) and brain changes according to MRI, as well as to evaluate the efficacy and safety of vinpocetine. The study included 60 patients with CCI: 40 people with postural instability made up the main group and 20 people without balance disorders - the control group. The severity of manifestations of cerebrovascular pathology was assessed according to the protocol STRIVE. Severity of postural instability was assessed with the VAS, anxiety syndrome - Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, asthenia - Asthenic Condition Scale, daytime sleepiness - Epworth Sleepiness Scale, cognitive impairment - Montreal scale assessment of cognitive functions, the overall impression of treatment - Global Rating of Change Scale. The main group was associated with older age, more significant decrease in cognitive functions, urination disorders, anxiety syndrome and asthenia, changes according to MRI of the brain. CCI burden scale was significantly associated with VAS: β=0.479, P=0.035, 95% CI 0.023-0.928. The presence of lacunae was the most significant marker for the development of severe imbalance: β=0.482, p=0.041, 95% CI 0.022-0.925. A significant relationship was found between the total number of lacunae and VAS (r=0.509, p=0.021), as well as between the number of lacunae in the basal ganglia (r=0.793, p=0.019), especially the lenticular nuclei (r=0.498, p=0.036), and VAS. After 3 months of vinpocetine treatment, a significant improvement in statodynamic function was noted in the main group, moreover - absence of anxiety, normalization of daytime sleep, «weak» asthenia, increasement in the value of the MoCA scale. Most of the patients regarded the improvement from the therapy as «moderate» and «pronounced». The presence of lacunes in the basal ganglia is a most prominent neuroimaging marker of brain damage in patients with CCI and postural instability. The use of vinpocetine can significantly reduce the severity of imbalance, anxiety and asthenia, and normalize the circadian rhythm of sleep.

The physio balance: A review

Background: To create awareness among professionals &amp; students and to cognize the importance of the physio balance. Balance refers to an individual&rsquo;s ability to maintain their line of gravity within their Base of support (BOS). It can also be described as the ability to maintain equilibrium, where equilibrium can be defined as any condition in which all acting forces are cancelled by each other resulting in a stable balanced system. Methodology Data source: Relevant articles were identified by searching from: PuBMed, SCIENCEDIRECT, EBSCO, SCOPUS, Web of Science, shodhganga, Elsevier, Google Scholar. Data selection: Little significant scientific studies were found relating to the importance of rehabilitation &amp; assessment in sports. Five studies were selected based on inclusion criteria. Two pilot studies included as The Role of assessment in sports. Results: Exalted balance makes daily activities, such as walking on stairs, carrying heavy items, and plop changing directions, easier. A strong, stable base will allow you to move with more coordination, ease, and fluidity. Also gain stronger and more enhanced movement during athletic activities. Evolutive good balance helps to improve overall health and fitness levels. These improvements help to prevent the risk of injury and falls, especially in older adults and people with Parkinson&rsquo;s disease. This allows maintaining independence longer. Conclusions: Physiotherapy interference like balance training combined with muscle strengthening, the range of movement and walking training exercise is effective in improving balance in patients with Parkinson&rsquo;s disease and more effective than balance exercises alone. Highly challenging balance training and incremental speed-dependent treadmill training can also be part of a rehabilitation program for management of balance dysfunction and Postural instability in patients with idiopathic Parkinson&rsquo;s disease.

Shoulder-Tap Test for Functional Gait Disorders: A Sign of Abnormal Anticipatory Behavior.

Functional gait disorders (FGDs) involve gait abnormalities that are internally inconsistent and incongruent with other neurologic disease.1 The clinical pull (or retropulsion) test is commonly used to evaluate postural instability in patients with neurologic gait disorders.2,3 We describe the range of postural responses to the pull test in patients with FGD and explore a variation of the pull test—a “shoulder tap”—that might evoke abnormal anticipatory postural reactions in these patients.

A ‘shoulder tap’ test for functional gait disorders: A sign of abnormal anticipatory behaviour

Functional gait disorders (FGDs) involve gait abnormalities that are internally inconsistent and incongruent with other neurological disease. The clinical pull (or retropulsion) test is widely considered the gold standard in evaluating postural instability in patients with neurological gait disorders. Here, we describe the range of postural responses to the pull test in patients with functional gait disorders (FGDs) and explore the utility of the 'shoulder tap test' in these patients.

Type of exercise may influence postural adaptations in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

ObjectiveTraditional posturography measurements characterize postural instability in patients with chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), while underlying postural control mechanisms remain unclear. Taking a model‐based approach can yield insights into these mechanisms. This study’s aim was to characterize the modifications in postural control of CIPN patients associated with exercise in relation to the postural behavior of healthy control participants (hCON) via an exploratory approach.MethodsThirty‐one CIPN patients were randomly assigned to two interventions (balance plus moderate endurance training vs. moderate endurance training only) and exercised twice per week over 12 weeks. Baseline data were compared to 36 matched hCONs. We recorded spontaneous sway and postural reactions to platform tilts using Optotrak and a Kistler force platform pre‐ and post‐intervention. Data interpretation relied on a model‐based parameter identification procedure.ResultsSpontaneous sway amplitudes were larger and postural reactions smaller, with a relative phase advance, in our pre‐intervention patients than the hCONs. Post‐intervention, spontaneous sway, and postural reactions were reduced and the sensory‐motor ratio larger in both groups, while the postural reaction timing differed between groups.InterpretationThe abnormally small postural reactions in CIPN patients before the intervention can be interpreted as the consequence of abnormally strong velocity control—a strategy modification that may serve as a prediction mechanism to compensate for the lack of timely and accurate proprioceptive signals. While both groups reduced postural sway and showed an adapted sensory‐motor ratio post‐intervention, the interventions seemed to trigger different velocity control strategies. This study emphasizes the need for taking a more differentiated perspective on intervention effects.Trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register (DRKS) number: DRKS00005419, prospectively registered on November 19, 2013.

The Effects of Surgery on Postural Instability in Patients With Cervical Compressive Myelopathy: Evaluating Subjective Perceptions and Objective Measurements.

A retrospective study. To investigate the effects of surgery on the subjective perception of bodily unsteadiness and the objective measurements of postural instability in patients with cervical compressive myelopathy (CCM). Several studies have demonstrated that CCM patients have impaired postural stability and investigated its surgical outcomes. However, these studies have only objectively measured postural stability by using a stabilometer or three-dimensional motion capture system. There have been no studies examining the subjective perception of postural instability in CCM patients. We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent decompressive surgery for CCM. The Fall Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) and a self-prepared questionnaire were used to evaluate subjective perception of bodily unsteadiness. To objectively assess postural instability, a stabilometric analysis was performed with the following parameters: sway area (SwA, cm2), sway velocity (SwV, cm/s), and sway density (SwD, /cm). The evaluations were performed preoperatively, during the early postoperative period (3-6 mo postoperatively), and at 1-year postoperatively in patients with CCM. The evaluation results were compared with age-matched, sex-matched, and body mass index-matched healthy subjects. We included 70 CCM patients and 36 healthy subjects in this study. In both the FES-I and self-prepared questionnaire, CCM patients reported significantly milder postoperative bodily unsteadiness. The stabilometric parameters were significantly improved during the postoperative period when compared with preoperative values. Nevertheless, neither the self-reported outcome measures nor stabilometric parameters of CCM patients reached the levels of those in healthy controls in the postoperative period. This was the first study to examine CCM surgical outcomes in terms of both subjective perception and objective postural instability. While both objective postural stability and subjective perception improved following decompressive surgery, they did not reach the levels seen in healthy participants. Level III.

Quantitative Analysis of Postural Instability in Patients with Parkinson's Disease.

Introduction Postural instability is commonly observed in Parkinson's disease, leading to an increasing risk of falling and worsening as the disease progresses. We found that limit of stability can be applied to reflect the dynamic evolution of postural instability in patients with Parkinson's disease. Methods Forty-three patients (9 of Hoehn and Yahr stage I, 12 of stage II, 14 of stage III, and 8 of stage IV) met the criteria for the diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease and could stand independently for at least 10 minutes. Twelve healthy controls with no sign of parkinsonism were also recruited. Postural instability was assessed by posturography in different directions (forward, backward, right, left, forward-right, forward-left, backward-right, and backward-left). This study trial was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (no. ChiCTR1900022715). Results All participants were able to complete the limit of stability tasks without any complications. Patients in stages II to IV exhibited smaller end point excursion and slower time to complete than controls, suggesting an impaired limit of stability. The patients in stage II exhibited a remarkable decline in most directions compared to controls, except for right and left, and forward and backward decline occurred the earliest. For patients in stage III, right was the only direction with no significant difference from controls. In stage IV patients, the limit of stability declined significantly in all directions (p < 0.05). Conclusions The postural abnormalities of Parkinson's disease can occur at early stages, and the pattern of decline is more severe in the forward-backward direction. This trial is registered with ChiCTR1900022715.