Postural System Research Articles

Important interrelations between posturology, vestibular disorders and dentistry

Human posture is defined as any position that determines the balance with maximum stability, minimum energy consumption and minimum stress on the anatomical structures. Research done on posture makes authors look at the postural system as a whole. The aim of this article is to preview the connections between dentistry, postural science and vestibulogy. Scientific databases – Scopus, MEDLINE, PubMed were used for the research, with the following keywords – posturology, vertigo, dental medicine, orthodontics, pathological bite, for the 2000–2020-time period. Apart from scientific articles, information from different symposiums and lectures was included. The target was to briefly point out and summarize the most important relations between the topics. Posture is controlled by the central nervous system (CNS), leading to postural corrections. They are the result of a complex system of mechanisms, controlled by multisensory CNS-integrated inputs. The fine postural system (FPS) aims to maintain balance in the most economical way possible. Stomatognathic system is another functional unit, connected to postural system. The science that studies human posture is called posturology and is a part of integrative medicine. Integrative clinical posturology is a complex, multidisciplinary science that uses various investigation methods in several stages: detailed anamnesis; An in-depth posturological examination – including measurements and tests – for vestibular and visual function and stabilometry. In conclusion, it can be said that posturology is a modern and, at the same time, an ancient constantly evolving, interdisciplinary, “borderline” science. It unites different specialists and helps to build an individual approach to each patient, providing a higher quality of life. There is a connection between vestibular disorders, posturological science and dentistry. Through the methods of the science for posture, occurring disorders can be detected at a much earlier stage and appearance of severe pathology prevented.

The Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Combined With Proprioceptive Training for Blind Individuals: The Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

To maintain the balance, the postural system needs to integrate the three main sensorial systems: visual, vestibular, and somatosensory to keep postural control within the limits of stabilization. Damage of one of these systems, in this case, the vision, will have a great disturbance on the postural control influencing the behavior of the balance, resulting in falls. The aim of this study protocol for a randomized, controlled clinical trial is to analyze the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with proprioceptive exercises on postural control in individuals with congenital and acquired blindness. In this randomized, controlled, double-blind, clinical trial, male, and female individuals with blindness between 18 and 55 years of age will participate in this study divided into three phases: 1—Determine differences in postural control and gait between individuals with congenital and acquired blindness with and without the use of a guide stick when wearing shoes and when barefoot; 2—A pilot study to analyze the effects a bilateral cerebellar anodal tDCS on postural on postural control and gait; and 3—A treatment protocol will be conducted in which the participants will be allocated to four groups: G1—active tDCS + dynamic proprioceptive exercises; G2—sham tDCS + dynamic proprioceptive exercises; G3—active tDCS + static proprioceptive exercises; and G4—sham tDCS + static proprioceptive exercises. Evaluations will involve a camera system for three-dimensional gait analysis, a force plate, and electromyography. Dynamic stability will be determined using the Timed Up and Go test and static stability will be analyzed with the aid of the force plate. The viability of this study will allow the determination of differences in postural control between individuals with congenital and acquired blindness, the analysis of the effect of tDCS on postural control, and the establishment of a rehabilitation protocol.

Improvements in Cognition and Balance Following Neurological Rehabilitation for a 23-year-old Male with Post Concussive Syndrome and Subsequent Minor Head Traumas

Objective is to show improvements in cognition and balance following neurological rehabilitation in patient with post-concussive syndrome (PCS) and subsequent minor head traumas. A 23-year-old male presented to Plasticity Centers for evaluation and treatment of persistent symptoms following a sports-related concussion that occurred two years prior with subsequent minor head injuries. His symptoms included fatigue, concentration/focus difficulties, and issues when reading or looking at screens. Upon intake, he reported on the graded symptom checklist (GSC) a symptom severity score of 35. During neurocognitive testing on the C3Logix program, Trails A time was 28.8 seconds; Trails B time was 68.2 seconds; digit symbol matching score (DSMS) was 55 correctly matched digits/symbols; simple reaction time (SRT) was 303 milliseconds and choice reaction time (CRT) was 388 milliseconds. A Comprehensive Assessment of Postural Systems (CAPS®) was performed assessing balance and stability, on both a solid and foamed surface, with eyes opened, eyes closed, and multiple head positions. Average stability score upon intake was calculated as 75.8%. Three separate intensives of 4 to 5 days, with multi-modal programs of neurological exercises were administered in multiple one-hour treatment sessions over the course of 19 weeks. Each session consisted of repetitive peripheral somatosensory stimuli, cognitive exercises, neuromuscular reeducation exercises, vestibular rehabilitation exercises, orthoptic exercises, and off-vertical axis rotation utilizing a multi-axis rotational chair. Upon exit, the symptom severity score decreased to 7 (-80.0%); Trails A time was 16.8 (-41.7%); Trails B time was 31.8 seconds (-53.4%). DSMS representing processing speed increased to 60 correctly matched digits/symbols (+9.1%). SRT was 253 milliseconds (-16.5%); and CRT was 319 milliseconds (-17.8%). Average stability score was calculated as 84.0% (+10.8%). The authors suggest further investigation into multi-modal, intensive approaches to improve cognition, balance, and cognitive impairment in patients with PCS who have sustained subsequent minor head traumas.

Improvements in Cognition, Graded Symptom Checklist Score, Balance and Memory Following Neurological Rehabilitation for a 58-year-old Male Patient with Post-Concussion Syndrome: Case Report

To suggest the efficacy of multi-modal, intensive, neurologic rehabilitation approaches to improve cognition, balance, and cognitive impairment in patients with post-concussion syndrome. A 58-year-old male patient presented to Plasticity Brain Centers for evaluation and treatment of persistent symptoms following a previously diagnosed concussion. His symptoms followed rapidly after injury and included headaches, neck pain, and difficulty with sleeping. Upon intake, he reported on the graded symptom checklist (GSC) a symptom severity score of 59. A Comprehensive Assessment of Postural Systems (CAPS ®) was performed assessing balance and stability on both a solid and foamed surface with eyes opened, eyes closed, and multiple head positions. An average stability score upon intake was calculated as 53.9% overall. Neurocognitive testing utilizing C3 Logix Neurocognitive Assessment Suite, Trails A time was 28.6 and standardized assessment of cognition (SAC) score was a 28/30 with specific difficulty in delayed memory. A 5-day, intensive, multi-modal program of neurologic exercises was administered in 10 one-hour treatment sessions. Each session consisted of repetitive peripheral somatosensory stimuli, cognitive exercises, neuromuscular reeducation, vestibular rehabilitation, orthoptic exercises, and off-vertical axis rotation utilizing a multi-axis rotational chair. Upon exit, symptom severity score decreased to 35 (-40.6%); Trails A time decreased to 19.7 (-31.1%); balance improved from an average stability score of 75.5%-79.6% (+5.4%); and standardized assessment of cognition (SAC) score increased to an overall score of 30/10 (+7.1%) with an improvement in delayed memory. The authors suggest further investigation into multi-modal, intensive approaches to improve cognition, balance, and cognitive impairment in patients with post-concussion syndrome.

Improvements in Cognition and Balance Following Neurological Rehabilitation for a 17-year-old female hockey player with Post Concussive Syndrome

Objective is to show improvements in cognition and balance following neurologic rehabilitation for patient with post-concussive syndrome (PCS). A 17-year-old, female, patient presented to Plasticity Brain Centers for evaluation and treatment of persistent symptoms following 3 diagnosed concussions. Her first concussion occurred via a motor vehicle collision and the two latter concussions were obtained while playing hockey. Her primary symptoms included headaches and vision issues, which she has been experiencing for over 3 years. Upon intake, she reported on the graded symptom checklist (GSC) a symptom severity score of 32. During neurocognitive testing on the C3Logix program, her Trails A time was 14.1 seconds; Trails B time was 32.6 seconds; digit symbol matching score (DSMS) was 56; simple reaction time (SRT) was 299 milliseconds and her choice reaction time (CRT) was 381 milliseconds. A Comprehensive Assessment of Postural Systems (CAPS®) was performed assessing balance and stability, on both a solid and foamed surface, with eyes opened, eyes closed, and multiple head positions. An average stability score was calculated as 39.2%. A 5-day intensive with multi-modal neurologic exercises was administered in ten one-hour treatment sessions. Each session consisted of repetitive peripheral somatosensory stimuli, cognitive exercises, neuromuscular reeducation exercises, balance exercises, vestibular rehabilitation exercises, orthoptic exercises, and off-vertical axis rotation utilizing a multi-axis rotational chair. Upon exit, the symptom severity score decreased to 5 (-80.0%); Trails A time decreased to 10.9 (-22.7%); Trails B time decreased to 25.3 seconds (-22.4%). DSMS representing processing speed increased to 59 (+5.4%). SRT improved with a time of 245 milliseconds (-18.1%); and CRT was 311 milliseconds (-18.4%). Stability scores improved, with the average stability score calculated as 83.2% (+112.4%). The authors suggest further investigation into multi-modal, intensive approaches to improve cognition and balance in patients with PCS.

Analysis of Physiological Signals of Individuals with Eyes Closed Subjected to Unexpected Direction-Specific Stimuli Causing Instability

Research regarding the cerebral cortex and muscle activity patterns of the body used for postural balance control when sudden instability stimuli occur is lacking. This study analyzed individuals' physiological signals when direction-specific instability stimuli were applied while their eyes were closed. Healthy adults in their 20s maintained their postural balance while looking at the center of gravity provided by a monitor with a three-dimensional dynamic postural balance training system. We performed electroencephalography (EEG) and measured trunk and lower extremity muscle activity of participants with their eyes closed when subjected to four direction-specific instability stimuli (anterior, posterior, left, and right). EEG results showed that gamma waves increased significantly with an unbalanced stimulus when the participant's eyes were open and closed. The increased gamma wave rate with eyes closed was low in the exercise planning area, where information is relatively integrated and exercise is planned without visual information. EMG results showed fewer gamma waves on EEG due to the low focus on postural control because participants could not observe the center of gravity, which is the basis for balance. The trunk and lower extremity muscles tended to be used more due to the larger body perturbation angle. These outcomes can be used as basic data regarding how the human brain and muscles maintain postural balance when an unexpected external instability stimulus occurs. Quantitative postural balance rehabilitation training protocols for the elderly and those with disabilities can be created based on these outcomes.

CORRECTIONAL STRATEGY AND TACTICS OF EQUILIBRIUM DISORDERS OVERCOMING OF PRESCHOOLERS

The article describes planning system features of corrective actions for the balance function formation in preschool children with musculoskeletal system disorders. The analysis of the existing planning approaches of physical education and physical rehabilitation is made: the insufficiency of the substantiated scientific methodological bases in planning of corrective actions for balance function improvement in preschool children with musculoskeletal system disorders is found out. The general principles of adaptive physical education planning of preschoolers with musculoskeletal disorders are considered. On this basis, a method of step-by-step planning of equilibrium function purposeful formation was developed, which reflects the logic of five channels stimulating of the postural aplomb system and takes into account the peculiarities of postural deficit in each case. Conclusions present the algorithm of corrective actions planning system, which improves balance function of the specified children category. Research prospects of effective ways of postural deficit overcoming of preschool children with musculoskeletal system disorders are briefly marked.

Physiological Profile Assessment of Posture in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Typically Developing Peers.

A sound postural system requires sensorimotor integration. Evidence suggests that individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) present sensorimotor integration impairments. The Physiological Profile Assessment (PPA) can be used to evaluate postural capacity assessing five physiological subsets (i.e., vision, reaction time, peripheral sensation, lower limb strength, balance); however, no studies applied the PPA in young individuals. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the PPA in children and adolescents with ASD compared with age-matched typically developing (TD) individuals and examine the relationship between the PPA subset within the ASD and TD participants according to different age groups. Percentiles from the PPA were obtained from the TD children and adolescents (n = 135) for each test. Performances of the individuals with ASD (n = 18) were examined relative to the TD percentiles. ASD participants’ scores were above the 90th percentile (i.e., poor performance) in most sensory, motor and balance parameters. Performance in most of the PPA tests significantly improved with older age in the TD group but not in the ASD group. The study findings support the use of the PPA in TD children and adolescents while further research should investigate postural capacity in a larger ASD sample to enhance the understanding of sensorimotor systems contributing to compromised postural control.

The association between pelvic asymmetry and non-specific chronic low back pain as assessed by the global postural system

BackgroundEmpirical evidence that demonstrates the relationship between pelvic asymmetry and non-specific chronic low back pain (NCLBP) is currently lacking.ObjectiveTo establish the reliability of the Global Postural System (GPS) in assessing pelvic asymmetry and identify the association between pelvic asymmetry parameters and the occurrence of NCLBP in young adults.DesignA cross-sectional, regression study.MethodsPeople who were aged between 18 and 30 and were diagnosed with NCLBP were recruited. Healthy individuals who were matched for age, sex, and education level were recruited as controls. Global Postural System (GPS) was employed to assess pelvic asymmetry. Prior to exploring the association, the reliability of GPS was assessed by the ICC (2, k) for interrater reliability, ICC (3, k) for intra-rater reliability, standard error and minimal detectable difference. Bivariate correlation analysis and logistic regression analysis were used to determine the relationship between pelvic asymmetry and the occurrence of NCLBP.ResultsTwenty-eight healthy participants and 28 people with NCLBP were recruited. Moderate to excellent ICCs were observed for the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of most postural parameters. The bivariate correlation analysis indicated that age, body mass index and pelvic asymmetry parameters were related to the occurrence of NCLBP. Pelvic angle asymmetry (odds ratio = 1.17), and asymmetry of the distance between the posterior superior iliac spine and the floor (odds ratio = 1.21) were associated with NCLBP.LimitationsThis study did not explore the causal relationship between pelvic asymmetry in the sagittal plane/pelvic asymmetry in the transverse plane and the occurrence of NCLBP. The interpretation of the results may not be generalized beyond the sample population.ConclusionsThe GPS is a reliable method to assess pelvic asymmetry in a clinical setting. Two pelvic parameters were associated with the presence of NLBP. Measurement of pelvic asymmetry may assist in the early identification of potential occurrence of NCLBP but further work is required.

The effect of Tai Chi exercise on postural time-to-contact in manual fitting task among older adults

BackgroundA fall would impact elderly population’s quality of life, which associate with diminished physical and psychological function, and can even be life-threatening. Tai Chi has been used to improve age-related postural instability in locomotion. However, it does not fully explain the mechanism of a lower risk of falling among the Tai Chi population compared to other healthy older adults. Research questionThe maintenance of postural stability is more complicated than minimizing postural movements. Postural time to contact is an important temporal measure of postural stability under fitting tasks, which might further clarify the benefits of long term Tai Chi exercise. MethodsParticipants were required to fit a block (90 × 90 mm) through two different openings (130 × 130 mm and 100 × 100 mm) at two different distances (arm’s length or 130 % of arm’s length). Kistler forceplate and Vicon system were used to collect center of pressure and kinematic data, respectively. Postural time to contact was used to assess instantaneous perturbation for postural system. ResultsTai Chi group exhibited significant longer postural time to contact in quiet standing and shorter postural time to contact in fitting tasks, expecting for close-small condition, compared to the brisk walking and sedentary groups (p < .05). In addition, both large and small opening condition, Tai Chi group showed a shorter postural time to contact than brisk walking and sedentary groups (p < .0001). SignificanceLong term Tai Chi exercise would promote the regulation of posture and decrease the postural constrain to increase the overall stability when performing fitting tasks. Therefore, Tai Chi exercise can be considered as a feasible method to enhance postural control and stability in older adult.

Postural Dysfuctions and Strabismus: Correlations

Purpose: Patient with strabismus may assume a compensatory posture. Posturology treats patients with abnormal head position through the stimulation of foot, ocular and stomatognathic receptors. As an alternation of one or more receptor occurs, the tonic postural system seeks to carer for this problems by adopting compensatory postures (scoliosis, abnormalities of distribution of the podalic load, abnormal head position). The extrinsic eye muscles, the head, neck and tongue muscles arise from the occipital somites: probably this explains the relationship between the ocular misalignment and abnormal posture. The objective of this work is to evaluate the relationships between oculomotor e postural defects.&#x0D; Methods: N = 47 patients received a comprehensive ophthalmologic and orthoptic examination. They underwent baropodometric and stabilometric examinations.&#x0D; Results: Our sample group included 37 patients with exodeviation, 17 patients with esodeviation. We observed: flat foot with an incidence rate of 83.33% (25 out of 33) in exotropic subjects; pes cavus with an incidence rate of 16.66% (5 out of 30) in exotropic subjects; flat foot with an incidence rate of 23.52% (4 out of 17) in esotropic subjects; pes cavus with an incidence rate of 76.47% (13 out of 17) in esotropic subjects. Clinical physiatry observation of patients with Eso/Exo deviations prove a considerable turn-out of postural disorders: lumbar scoliosis (76.47%).&#x0D; Conclusions: In our sample, patients with exodeviation have flat feet (83.33%); the subjects with esodeviation have pes cavus (76.47%). However, there is a widely recognized need for a further extensive study and evaluation of the results obtained regarding binocular vision and posture.

The postural system as a functional venous pump

Background: In the 90s, Inamura et al. have drawn our attention to the role played by the postural system in the return venous circulation, thanks to plethysmographic recordings which gave free rein to the imagination of the authors to suppose the functioning mechanisms of this venous pump. In 2010, two anatomists, Uhl &amp; Gillot, transformed our representation of the venous network and made assumptions about the functioning of the venous pump. Objective/ Methods: The aim of this work is to verify these hypotheses by scanning the venous blood flow at the level of the sinus soleus and the popliteal vein during various posture-kinetic situations. Conclusion: These studies fully confirm the hypotheses. It is therefore likely that the postural system intervenes not only in the phenomena of stabilisation of the body, but also in the back venous circulation.

New parameters for the analysis of statokinezigram vectors

Based on the analysis of the statokinezigram vectors, new stabilometric parameters have been proposed: the Dynamic Stabilization Factor [DSF] and the Dynamic Stabilization Index [DSI]. They reflect the individual properties of the postural system and the functional state of the human body. DSI is stable in time and does not depend on the duration of the stabilometric recording. The principle and algorithm for calculating these parameters are presented. The possibility of evaluating the effectiveness of osteopathic treatment with its help is shown. Computer stabilometry was carried out on the stabilometric platform “Stabilan” with the software “StabMed” Special Design Bureau “Rhythm”, Taganrog, Russia. The sampling rate was 50 Hz.

The relationship between the organization of the postural system and the psychological characteristics of person

Introduction. The arbitrary control of the human posture is an important physiological function of the body. The pose includes, in fact, an integrated set of biomechanical, neurophysiological and neuropsychiatric phenomena that affect each other and are mutually compensated at each point in time. Studying the postural balance of the body can give a huge amount of information about emotions and self-perception of personality.The goal of research — is to identify the psychological characteristics of the persons with the different types of postural organization, which determine the variability of behavior in different life situations and the peculiarities of interaction with the world.Materials and methods. The study was conducted on the basis of the Kamchatka State University Vitus Bering in 2017–2018. The study involved 75 respondents aged 20 to 32 years, including 40 men and 35 women. Study design: open, cohort, empirical. A visual analysis of the person′s static posture was carried out using the Barre vertical to determine their postural organization type. To determine the psychological personality characteristics the following methods were used: the «Coping strategy indicator» methodology to determine the prevailing coping strategy, the Plutchik–Kellerman–Conte questionnaire «Life Style Index» (LSI) to determine the leading defense mechanisms, and their general tension, a time perspective questionnaire F. Zimbardo (ZTPI) for determining the temporal orientation of a person, the Dembo–Rubinstein technique modified by A. M. Prikhozhan for studying self-esteem and emotional saturation of life. For each of the methods, scoring was carried out and, further, a statistical analysis. Differences were considered statistically significant at p&lt;0,05.Results. The results of the study revealed the psychological characteristics of respondents with different types of postural organization. The respondents of the front type of postural organization group are characterized by a wider range of psychological defenses, a tendency to compensation and hypercompensation. Respondents with this type of body organization evaluate themselves as confident, happy and successful, through an assessment of their involvement in life. They assess their life as filled with events, but at the same time, the self-confidence indicator in this group is lower than in groups 2 and 3. It can be assumed that the respondents in this group tend to keep their lives under control and worry about achieving future goals, and it is indicated by lower, in comparison with groups 2 and 3, indicators of self-confidence. The respondents of the posterior type of postural organization are characterized by a smaller spectrum of psychological defenses, the predominance of compensation, and the emotional richness of life is important for them. The assessment of oneself as more selfconfident is characteristically. They also consider their life not eventful enough. Respondents with a harmonious type of postural organization are characterized by the variability of protective mechanisms, a balanced time perspective, cognitive fl exibility and attitude to difficulties as an opportunity to draw experience for personal growth and development. In addition, it is likely that the harmonious type of bodily organization is an indicator of the psychological harmony of the personality, which, first of all, is manifested in building relationships in the man—world system, through an adequate assessment of oneself.Conclusion. The study confirms the fact of the individual psychological characteristics relationship with the type of postural organization. Studying the postural balance of the body can provide significant information about self-perception of the personality and the type of psychological interaction with the world. In this regard, it seems promising to expand the spectrum of the personality psychological characteristics study in conjunction with bodily organization, its features with different somatic manifestations, as well as non-verbal communication phenomena.

Postural role of the foot and its disturbance in case of fl at feet (literature review)

The review presents data about the role of the foot in maintaining of the human postural balance. The foot is considered as a receptive field and an organ-effector of the postural system. Data of the etiology, pathogenesis and methods of flatfoot correction are presented.

Randomized comparison of functional electric stimulation in posturally corrected position and motor program activating therapy: treating foot drop in people with multiple sclerosis

Functional electric stimulation (FES) is recommended for foot drop in multiple sclerosis, although little is known about its therapeutic effect. The aim of this study is to evaluate a therapeutic effect immediately and two months after program termination (persistent and delayed effect) of a new approach using FES in combination with correcting the patients' postural system. More specifically, we evaluate the effects of this approach on the patients' clinical functions and compared it with individual physiotherapy. Parallel randomized blind trial. Two-month-long treatments, functional electric stimulation in posturally corrected position (group 1) and neuroproprioceptive facilitation and inhibition physiotherapy called motor program activating therapy (group 2). Forty-four subjects with multiple sclerosis. Primary outcomes: gait (the 2-Minute Walk Test; Timed 25-Foot Walk test; Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale-12) and balance (by e.g. Berg Balance Scale [BBS], the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale [ABC], Timed Up-and-Go Test [TUG]). mobility, cognition, fatigue and subjects' perceptions (e.g. Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale [MSIS], Euroqol-5 dimensions-5 levels [EQ-5D-5L]). Group 1 showed immediate therapeutic effect in BBS (P=0.008), ABC (P=0.04) and EQ-5D-5L (self-care, P=0.019, mobility P=0.005). The improvement in EQ-5D-5L persisted and in TUG-cognitive we documented a delayed effect (P=0.005). Group 2 showed an immediate improvement in BBS (P=0.025), MSIS (P=0.043) and several aspects of daily life (the effect on health today was significantly higher than in group 1, significant difference between groups P=0.038). FES in the posturally corrected position has an immediate therapeutic effect on balance and patients' perceptions comparable to motor program activating therapy, and higher persistent and even delayed therapeutic effect. The study results point to the importance of correcting the patients' posture when applying FES, the possibility to treat foot drop by individual physiotherapy and the activation of the patients' auto reparative processes.

Effects of footedness and stance asymmetry confirm an inter-leg metastable coordination dynamics of standing posture

We investigated the patterns of coordination between the left and right legs that support the task of maintaining an upright standing posture. We used cross-wavelet analyses to assess coordination between the centers of pressure under the left and right feet. We recruited participants with a lateralized functional preference for their right leg, and we manipulated whether these participants stood with symmetric/asymmetric stances and whether their eyes were open or closed. Our hypotheses were derived from the Haken-Kelso-Bunz (HKB) model of interlimb coordination dynamics. Consistent with HKB model predictions, we observed (1) coordination taking the form of metastable, transient epochs of stable phase relations, (2) preferences for in-phase and anti-phase coordination patterns, and (3) changes in pattern stability and phase leads associated with both stance asymmetry and right-side lateral preference. The form and stability of observed coordination patterns were mediated by the availability of visual information. Our findings confirm the existence of a metastable coordination dynamic associated with the task of maintaining upright stance. We discuss the implications of these findings in the context of evaluating the utility of the HKB model for understanding the functional organization of the posture system.

Reliability and robustness of optimization properties for stabilization of the upright stance as determined using posturography

Diagnostic value of static posturography depends on its methodological features, measurement properties, and on computational methods that extract meaningful information from the postural sway i.e. the center-of-pressure (CoP) displacements. In this study, we assessed the reliability and robustness of the postural system based on the optimization properties of the CoP signal: descending, local and global stability, and convergence. For the analysis, we used CoP data from 146 participants (104 [71%] female, age 46 ± 23 years, body mass index 23.6 ± 3.4 kg/m2) recorded while standing quietly on a foam surface without visual input. Reliability was estimated using the intraclass correlation coefficient from a single (ICC2,1) and averaged (ICC2,3) measurements. Robustness was assessed through main and interaction effects for the signal duration (60, 30 s), sampling frequency (100, 50 Hz), and lowpass filtering cutoff frequency (10, 5 Hz). The observed reliability depended on the use of average or single measurements as it was excellent for the stability property (ICC2,k ≥ 0.772); excellent-to-acceptable (ICC2,3 ≥ 0.540) or excellent-to-unacceptable (ICC2,1 ≥ 0.281) for the descending property; and excellent-to-unacceptable (ICC2,3 > 0.295; ICC2,1 > 0.122) for the convergence property. Robustness analysis showed large main effects of signal duration (ω2 ≤ 0.834, p < 0.001), sampling frequency (ω2 ≤ 0.526, p < 0.001), and the lowpass filter cutoff frequency (ω2 ≤ 0.523, p < 0.001) on the optimization properties; but all two-way and three-way effects varied from medium to trivial. Reliability is thus excellent to acceptable for deriving the descending, stability, and convergence properties from the average of three measurements. Those optimization properties are robust to the interaction but not the main effects of methodological sources of variation of posturography.

Development and evaluation of wearable electro-goniometer for the assessment of repetitive efforts and measurement of joint trajectories during carpet weaving

The aim is to construct, calibrate and validate a low-cost sensor-embedded glove and elbow brace. This article establishes a common thread between electro-goniometry and postural assessment techniques. The output voltages from the sensors were converted into angles by implementing LabVIEW-Interface-for-Arduino based graphical environment. Ten experienced weavers participated in the study. Dynamic recordings of the finger, wrist and elbow bending trajectories were measured using sensory electro-goniometer. Assessment of repetitive task technique was used to identify the postural risks. Based on data output from each sensor, the voltage to angle optimal linear models were obtained for the measurement range of 0°-90° with 5° steps. The accuracy of the sensors was found within the limits of traditional goniometry. The cost-benefit breakdown revealed that wearable electro-goniometer is cost-effective as compared to commercially available electro-goniometers. The low-cost electro-goniometric glove and elbow brace for measurements of hand movements could be a promising tool for postural assessment and safety systems.

35 The Impact of Postural Hyperkyphosis on Postural Stability and Cognition

Abstract Background Postural Hyperkyphosis results from flexor dominant posture habits. Flexor dominance occurs due to dysfunction of the pontomedullary reticular formation (PMRF) of the brainstem and the vestibular system. The role of the PMRF is to inhibit anterior flexion above T6 spinal level, and the vestibular system stimulates upright postural extension and balance. When patients present with flexor dominance they have a Postural Hyperkyphosis postural distortion pattern and abnormal muscle activation patterns. To correct flexor dominance, practitioners should perform brain-based exercises, not just structural exercises. Brain based stimulation of the vestibular system and the brainstem stimulates upright extension of the Posture System and inhibition of anterior flexion to reduce Postural Hyperkyphosis. Postural Hyperkyphosis contributes to multiple health discrepancies. According to Cohen, Vasavada, and Wiest et al. (2016) in the Frontiers of Neuroscience, Postural Hyperkyphosis is associated with a lower state of cognition. According to Kado, Huang, and Nguyen et al. (2007) in the Journals of Gerontology hyperkyphosis is associated with poor balance and injurious falls in the elderly. Brainstem and vestibular activation reduces flexion and improves extension for better postural correction outcomes. Results Brain Based exercises reduce Postural Hyperkyphosis and improve postural stability and cognition of elderly patients. Brain Based exercises are safe for the elderly to perform and can be easily implemented into physical rehabilitation treatment plans for better postural correction results. Conclusion Correcting Postural Hyperkyphosis to improve Postural Stability and cognition requires a Brain Based treatment protocol.