Romberg Quotient Research Articles

Investigating the center of pressure velocity Romberg s quotient for assessing the visual role on the body sway

The classical Romberg's test based on stabilometric tests in eyes open (EO) and closed (EC) conditions was used for investigating the influence of visual feedback in the body sway control in healthy adult subjects. Stabilograms from 144 subjects (aged 18-40) resting over a force platform were recorded for 30 s in EO and 30 s in EC conditions. The mean velocity was obtained for EO (VmEO) and EC (VmEC) in both anterior-posterior (y) and medial-lateral (x) directions and in the (x,y) plane, and thus used for computing the respective Romberg's quotient (RQV). All Vm and RQV parameter histograms presented unimodal asymmetric shapes, which were adequately fitted to lognormal distributions (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, p > 0.05). These findings suggest a single homogeneous group in terms of visual strategy. Taking the threshold scores (95% confidence interval) of the Vm and RQV distributions, only four subjects (2.7%) presented values below the lower limit, as expected by the confidence level (two tailed, 5%). A strong dependence was also found between each RQV and the respective VmEC (Spear correlation > 0.86, R2 > 74.0%), with VmEO presenting almost negligible coefficients of determination (R2 < 2.9%). One can conclude that RQV derived from a single stabilometric trial could be not sufficient for the diagnosis of body sway control impairment by vision. Nevertheless, the RQV could be useful to indicate subjects to carry out additional tests to investigate a possible deficit in the integration of the visual information in the postural control system.

Evaluating the effects of open/closed eyes and age-related differences on center of foot pressure sway during stepping at a set tempo

This study aimed to examine the effects of open/ closed eyes and age difference on Center of Foot Pressure (COP) sway during stepping. The subjects were 87 healthy males aged 10 - 80 years. COP was measured 20 times when subjects stepped on two force plates (left and right) at a rate of 60 steps/min. The evaluation parameters selected were: total trace length, velocity, circumference, rectangular area，left-right width, and front-back width. The former four of these parameters were found to be significantly lower with eyes open than eyes closed in 80-year-old subjects, while the last parameter was significantly lower with eyes open in 10-year-old subjects. In 70- and 80-year-old subjects with eyes open, circumference was greater than that in 10- and 40 - 60-year-old subjects; their rectangular area was greater than that in 50- and 60-year-old subjects; and, their front-back width was greater than that in 10- and 30 - 60-year-old subjects. With eyes closed, circumference, rectangular area, left-right width, and front-back width in 80-year- old subjects, were greater than those in 10 - 70- year-old subjects. The front-back width during stepping with eyes closed was greater in 70- and 80-year-old subjects than in 30 - 50-year-old subjects. The Romberg quotient for all COP sway parameters revealed no significant age-related differences. From our findings, a difference in body sway was observed in 80-year-old subjects (with eyes open/closed) when compared with the other age groups. In addition, the extent of sway varied little among 80 year-old- subjects have greater body sway during stepping, particularly with eyes closed.

Mechanisms underlying center of pressure displacements in obese subjects during quiet stance

Objectivethe aim of this study was to assess whether reduced balance capacity in obese subjects is secondary to altered sensory information.Designcross sectional study.Subjects44 obese (BMI = 40.6 ± 4.6 kg/m2 , age = 34.2 ± 10.8 years, body weight: 114,0 ± 16,0 Kg, body height 167,5 ± 9,8 cm) and 20 healthy controls (10 females, 10 males, BMI: 21.6 ± 2.2 kg/m2, age: 30.5 ± 5.5 years, body weight: 62,9 ± 9,3 Kg, body height 170,1 ± 5,8 cm) were enrolled.Measurementscenter of pressure (CoP) displacements were evaluated during quiet stance on a force platform with eyes open (EO) and closed (EC). The Romberg quotient (EC/EO) was computed and compared between groups.Resultswe found statistically significant differences between obese and controls in CoP displacements (p < 0.01) and no statistically significant differences in Romberg quotients (p > 0.08).Conclusionthe increased CoP displacements in obese subjects do not need an hypothesis about altered sensory information. The integration of different sensory inputs appears similar in controls and obese. In the latter, the increased mass, ankle torque and muscle activity may probably account for the higher CoP displacements.

The effect of repeated visual motion stimuli on visual dependence and postural control in normal subjects

Patients with vestibular dysfunction, migraine and/or anxiety may experience visual vertigo (VV), whereby symptoms are provoked by disorienting visual environments (e.g. supermarkets). Patients with VV over rely on vision for balance (i.e. visually dependent). Visual vertigo significantly improves when vestibular rehabilitation incorporates exposure to optokinetic stimulation (OKS). However, whether OKS exposure induces a reduction in visual dependency is unknown. This study investigated this issue by measuring visual dependency before and after repeated OKS exposure. Twenty-six healthy subjects (10 males; mean age 29.8 years, range 20–42 years) were randomly allocated into an OKS group who underwent graded OKS exposure for five consecutive days, or a no intervention control group. Assessment included the ‘Rod and Frame’ and ‘Rod and Disc’ tests where subjects set the subjective visual vertical in darkness, facing a tilted luminous frame or luminous rotating disc, respectively. Postural sway measures were obtained with eyes open, closed and facing the rotating disc. Results showed significant reductions in subjective vertical tilt with the frame and rotating disc for the OKS group only (p≤0.01). Total sway path and mean deviation induced by the rotating stimulus decreased significantly only for the OKS group (p<0.01), as did the Kinetic Quotient (disc rotation/eyes open sway path ratio; p=0.04). The Romberg Quotient (eyes closed/eyes open ratio) showed no change. Findings suggest visual dependency, both at a perceptual and a postural level, can be reduced with short-term graded OKS exposure in healthy subjects. This has important implications for treatment of patients with VV and balance disorders.

The Effect of Cognitive Task on Visual Control of Standing Posture

Normal postural control has traditionally been considered an automatic or reflex process using minimal attentional resources. Recent research has provided evidence against this assumption and shown that postural control could be influenced by posture-unrelated cognitive activity. However, it was not clear whether posture-cognition interferences were due to limited central information-processing capacity, or the U-shaped relationship between physiological arousal and postural control. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of concurrent cognitive activities on postural control with and without vision. To address this issue, a dual-task paradigm was used in the experiment. Eighteen young healthy adults aged from 21-35 years were asked to keep upright standing as still as possible for 60s (i.e. the primary task) in 2 (with/without cognitive task) × 2 (vision /no vision) test conditions. The order of the four test conditions were counter balanced across all subjects. Body sway was recorded from the top of head and evaluated by Root Mean Square (RMS), Mean Velocity (MV) and Romberg Quotient (RQ). A 2 × 2 ANOVA with repeated measures was performed on the data to examine the effects of cognitive task on postural control. Results showed that the main effects of cognitive task and vision, the interaction of vision by cognitive task were significant on RMS and MV of body sway, as well as the RQ was decreased significantly when stance with cognitive task. These findings suggested that concurrent cognitive activities hampered the visual control of standing posture. The posture-cognition interferences were due to the impeded of visual information processing. In addition, a strategy of freezing motor degrees of freedom (df-freezing strategy) would be adopted to decrease the body sway in higher cognitive-load conditions.

Effects of a 12-Week Tai Chi Chuan Program Versus a Balance Training Program on Postural Control and Walking Ability in Older People

Lelard T, Doutrellot P-L, David P, Ahmaidi S. Effects of a 12-week Tai Chi Chuan program versus a balance training program on postural control and walking ability in older people. Objective To compare the respective effects of 2 balance training programs: a Tai Chi (TC) program and a balance training program on static postural control and walking ability. Design Randomized controlled trial. Setting General community. Participants Older subjects (N=28) participated in the study. Interventions The TC group (n=14; mean age ± SD, 76.8±5.1y) and the balance training group (n=14; 77.0±4.5y) were both trained for 12 weeks. Main Outcome Measures Static postural control was assessed via measurement of center of pressure sway under eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC) conditions. Walking speed over a 10-meter course was also assessed. Results After the 12-week training period, there were no significant differences in walking speed or postural parameters in either the EO or EC conditions for the TC and balance training groups. Performance in the EC condition was lower than in the EO condition in pretest and posttest for the balance training and TC groups. The Romberg quotient (EO/EC ratio) was significantly higher after the balance training program than the TC program ( P<.05). Conclusions We cannot conclude that the balance training program has better effects than the TC program on postural control or walking ability. None of the outcome measures showed significant change posttraining in either the TC or the balance training groups. However, the differences described in the Romberg quotient after the training period between the TC and the balance training groups suggest that TC should be helpful to limit the deleterious effects of eye closure on postural balance.

Role of ocular convergence in the Romberg quotient

The Romberg test generally shows that postural stability is better with eyes open than eyes closed; the Romberg quotient (RQ) is generally 2.5. This study examines the possible role of vergence angle on the RQ. Eighteen young (25.3 ± 2.7 years) and 17 old (61.6 ± 4.4 years) subjects were required to fixate a target at 40 cm or at 200 cm inducing different vergence angle (i.e. 8.6° and 1.7°, respectively) either with eyes open or closed. Postural stability of subjects was measured with force platform (TechnoConcept). The RQ was about 2 at 40 cm but dropped to 1 at 200 cm. In a second experiment, 15 subjects (26.7 ± 5.5 years) run the Romberg test with eye movement measures (Chronos). Subjects were required to fixate a target placed at 20 cm, 40 cm, 90 cm, 200 cm or 350 cm either in light or in dark. The RQ at 20 cm and 40 cm was close to 2 and dropped to 1 at 90 cm and beyond. In parallel, the vergence angle at 20 cm and 40 cm changed significantly between light and dark, while at 90 cm and beyond it was stable (about 2° both in light and dark). The distance had a significant effect on the co-variance between the RQ based on the anterior–posterior sway, and the change of vergence angle. We suggest different ways of control of posture according to the viewing distance: at near distance and in the light, the CNS uses vision coupled with oculo-motor convergence signals (efferent and afferent) leading to high RQ; at intermediate and far distances, it would use mostly internal signals (vestibular, proprioceptive, somatosensory), and similarly in the light and in the dark.

Critical dose of lead affecting postural balance in workers

The threshold blood lead (BPb) level for nervous system dysfunction in adults has been estimated to be 30-40 microg/dl. This study was carried out to estimate the critical dose of lead affecting the neuromotor function in workers by introducing the benchmark dose (BMD) approach, as well as to identify the specific postural sway to lead exposure. Postural sway parameters with spectral analysis were compared between 121 lead workers with BPb levels of 6-89 (mean 40) microg/dl and 60 unexposed controls. All sway parameters, except for sagittal sways with eyes open, were significantly larger in the lead workers than in the controls; also, the Romberg quotient for sagittal sway was significantly higher in the lead workers. The BPb level in the lead workers was significantly related to sagittal sways at 1-2 Hz and 2-4 Hz with eyes open, and sagittal and transversal sways at 1-2 Hz and 2-4 Hz with eyes closed. The BMD levels of BPb (i.e., lower 95% confidence limits of BMD) were estimated to be 12.1-17.3 (mean 14.4) microg/dl for postural sway. Neuromotor dysfunction in lead workers may be initiated at BPbs below the level previously accepted as effectless, and be characterized mainly by an increased sway of high frequency (1-4 Hz) in the sagittal direction with eyes closed (high Romberg quotient).

2.23 Effects of exercise and nutrition on Romberg quotient of postural balance in elderly with decreased bone mineral density

The Romberg test is used to identify balance issues in patients with Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy (CSM), but has subjective interpretation. The purpose of this study is to evaluate force plate pressure readings during a Romberg test to quantify postural control.Quantitative Romberg force plate readings with eyes open and closed in patients with CSM were obtained and changes in balance measurements were compared to a normal population (N = 28, mean age 39 ± 7 years).We identified 30 CSM patients with a mean age of 58 ± 10 years. Majority of patients presented with pain (90%) and neurologic symptoms (83%). Cord compression on imaging was identified in 90%. Mean eyes closed Romberg measurements were larger compared to eyes open measurements in CSM patients (p < 0.01). There was a larger change in Romberg (∆R) measurements in CSM compared to normals for total sway area (TSA, 14.18 vs 0.02 cm2, p < 0.001) and average speed (AS, 2.07 vs 0.23 cm/s, p < 0.001). The presence of long tract signs produced larger ∆R (TSA, 15.35 vs 0.02 cm2, p = 0.003; AS, 2.21 vs 0.23 cm/s, p = 0.001), and those with identified cord compression on imaging also had larger ∆R (TSA, 15.1 vs 0.02 cm2, p < 0.001; AS, 2.17 vs 0.23 cm/s, p < 0.001).Standing balance can be quantified in patients with CSM and is worse when compared to a normal population. Long tract signs and cord compression in imaging translates to worse balance in myelopathic patients. The use of quantitative Romberg measurements help evaluate balance in CSM.

Effects of Mixed Organic Solvents on Neuromotor Functions among Workers in Buddhist Altar Manufacturing Factories

To clarify the neuromotor effects of long-term exposure to mixed organic solvents, postural sway and tremor were measured in 62 solvent workers of four Buddhist altar manufacturing factories who had worked for 1-46 (mean 12) yr. By using the passive gas sampler, 8-h time-weighted average concentrations in the workers were estimated to be 0.02-8.7 ppm for toluene, 0.02-7.7 ppm for xylene, 0.02-5.5 ppm for styrene and 0.02-40.5 ppm for n-hexane. Sagittal sway and sway area of the posturography with eyes closed were significantly larger in the solvent workers than in 35 age-matched controls (p<0.05), and there was a significant difference in Romberg quotient of sagittal sway between the two groups (p<0.05). Also, tremor intensities at 1.0-5.9 Hz, 6.0-9.9 Hz and 10.0-13.9 Hz with the right hand, and at 6.0-9.9 Hz with the left hand were significantly stronger in the solvent workers than in the controls. Among the solvent workers, transversal and sagittal sways with eyes open and tremor intensity at 10.0-13.9 Hz were significantly related to toluene exposure (p<0.05), which may have been due to the acute effects of such solvents. These findings suggest that long-term exposure to mixed organic solvents may impair neuromotor functions as measured by postural sway and tremor.

Measurement of the visual contribution to postural steadiness from the COP movement: methodology and reliability

We studied the reliability of different measures of the visual contribution to postural steadiness by recording the postural sway during standing with eyes open (EO) or eyes closed (EC). The COP trajectory was recorded in 21 subjects aged 42-61 standing on a firm or foam support. The improvement of postural steadiness due to vision was measured with a higher reliability (i.e. lower intra- and inter-subject variabilities) with the sway velocity V, than with the position RMS. Due to the increase of the variability of V and RMS with their own mean values, we quantified the visual contribution to posture by the stabilization ratio (SR), based on a logarithm transform of V or RMS. As compared to the Romberg quotient (EC/EO), SR improved the reliability of the measurement of the visual contribution to posture within individuals, across subjects, and even across different studies in the literature. Our method led to decrease the inter-subject coefficient of variation of this measurement to about 25%, using a foam support. It leads to a similar accuracy in binocular and monocular vision, and it also applies to the quantification of other non-visual sensory contributions to posture.

Association of Pontine Small Infarction (Lacuna) with Disturbance of Postural Stability

Neuronal degeneration within the brainstem has been reported in patients with impaired postural stability. However, the functional significance of these abnormalities is unknown at present. In the present study, we evaluated the relationship between the presence of pontine lacunae and postural stability measured by stabilometry. A total of 209 consecutive patients without neurological signs were divided into three groups according to the territory of lacunae on magnetic resonance imaging: (1) non-lacunar group, (2) pontine lacunar group, and (3) non-pontine lacunar group. Stabilometry was performed and statokinesigram measures including each Romberg quotient were compared among the three groups. Using multivariate analysis, postural stability was found to be disturbed in the pontine lacunar group compared with the other groups. The data of stabilometry in this group were compatible with disturbance of the central controlling system for keeping postural stability. Pontine lacuna is associated with patients with postural instability. This result may be related to the deterioration of the central coordination system for posture and locomotion.

A comparison of rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia patients and healthy controls exposed to a pulsed (200 μT) magnetic field: effects on normal standing balance

Specific weak time varying pulsed magnetic fields (MF) have been shown to alter animal and human behaviors, including pain perception and postural sway. Here we demonstrate an objective assessment of exposure to pulsed MF's on Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Fibromyalgia (FM) patients and healthy controls using standing balance. 15 RA and 15 FM patients were recruited from a university hospital outpatient Rheumatology Clinic and 15 healthy controls from university students and personnel. Each subject stood on the center of a 3-D forceplate to record postural sway within three square orthogonal coil pairs (2 m, 1.75 m, 1.5 m) which generated a spatially uniform MF centered at head level. Four 2-min exposure conditions (eyes open/eyes closed, sham/MF) were applied in a random order. With eyes open and during sham exposure, FM patients and controls appeared to have similar standing balance, with RA patients worse. With eyes closed, postural sway worsened for all three groups, but more for RA and FM patients than controls. The Romberg Quotient (eyes closed/eyes open) was highest among FM patients. Mixed design analysis of variance on the center of pressure (COP) movements showed a significant interaction of eyes open/closed and sham/MF conditions [ F=8.78(1,42), P<0.006]. Romberg Quotients of COP movements improved significantly with MF exposure [ F=9.5(1,42), P<0.005] and COP path length showed an interaction approaching significance with clinical diagnosis [ F=3.2(1,28), P<0.09]. Therefore RA and FM patients, and healthy controls, have significantly different postural sway in response to a specific pulsed MF.

Effects of alcohol on body-sway patterns in human subjects.

The vestibulospinal aspects of vestibular function are commonly neglected in the evaluation of alcohol-induced intoxication. Thus, in the present study the effect of an acute intoxication with a low or moderate quantity of alcohol was examined with respect to the equilibrium in 30 healthy subjects. The blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was measured 30 min after the ingestion of the last alcohol, ranging between 0.22 and 1.59 per thousand. Stability of stance was quantified by static platform posturography in Romberg-test conditions with eyes open and eyes closed. Among other parameters, the average body sway path (SP) and area of body sway (SA) were assessed. Posturography revealed a significant increase in body sway. There was a positive correlation between SA (or SP) and BAC both with eyes open and eyes closed. Multiple group comparisons revealed that the large-alcohol-dose group (BAC > or = 1.0 per thousand) could be clearly differentiated from test cases with BAC lower than 0.8 per thousand. Sway area was the most sensitive parameter for detecting increased body sway after alcohol ingestion. The area increase, present not only with eyes closed but with eyes open, revealed an inadequate compensation of the ethanol-induced ataxia by visual stabilization. The Romberg's quotient, which denotes eyes closed relative to eyes open, remained constant. The increase in sway path with eyes closed showed an omnidirectional sway. A comparison of the sway pattern of subjects after acute ethanol ingestion with the data of patients with permanent cerebellar lesions suggested that the acute effect of alcohol resembles that of a lesion of the spinocerebellum. This finding contrasts with earlier studies, which postulated an acute effect of ethanol resembling that in patients with an atrophy of the anterior lobe of the cerebellum due to chronic alcohol abuse. In seven cases of the lower dose group (BAC < or = 0.8 per thousand), a reduction in body sway after alcohol ingestion was observed. This finding may be consistent with a dose-related biphasic action of alcohol, which - besides its well-known depressant effects with high doses - also shows stimulatory action with small doses.

Fatigue effects on body balance

Body sway variables (sway area and sway path) were recorded by a dynamometric platform in 13 young subjects, standing quiet with feet together, with eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC), prior to and following two types of physical exercise (treadmill walking and cycle ergometer pedalling). Each exercise was performed under both fatiguing (above anaerobic threshold) and non-fatiguing conditions. Following fatiguing treadmill exercise, we observed a significant increase in body sway with respect to pre-exercise values. The increase was present under both visual conditions, affected both sway area and sway path and lasted until about 15 min from the end of the exercise. The Romberg quotient (the ratio of EC/EO of sway area, or sway path) significantly increased after the fatiguing exercise with respect to the non-fatiguing exercise. The mean position of the centre of foot pressure (CFP) was unchanged after the exercise. Fatigue induced an increase in the median frequency of oscillation of the centre of foot pressure, independent of the amplitude of sway. Non-fatiguing treadmill exercise induced no significant changes in sway or in its frequency content. Following fatiguing cycle ergometer exercise, a negligible increase or a decrease (under eyes closed condition) in body sway were observed. Non-fatiguing cycling exercise induced no significant changes or a decrease in sway. Control experiments showed that simple repetition of successive stance trials (without intercalated exercise) was able by itself to induce a decrease in sway. By taking this effect into account, both types of cycling exercises revealed a mild capacity to increase sway. We concluded that body sway increased after strenuous physical exercise, but was little affected by exercise performed below the estimated anaerobic threshold. The effects of fatigue on sway were short-lasting and of moderate extent, and therefore were not liable to seriously threaten body equilibrium.

Biostereometric recording of the face and dental occlusion using stereophotogrammetry

We investigated the correlation between body sway and head sway in 64 healthy subjects who stood on a force-measuring platform. Each subject wore a helmet attached to a cephalograph and was asked to stand as still as possible on a platform with his feet close together for 60 sec. Subjects were asked to do this three times with their eyes closed and three times with their eyes open. We selected the test with the minimum sway for computer analysis of the sway path, sway area, ratio of anteroposterior/lateral components, sway velocity in each direction, averaged divisional frequency, and Romberg quotient. The movement of the head was significantly correlated with the center of foot pressure (COF) for the sway path, sway area, sway velocity, averaged divisional frequency, and the Romberg quotient. Our findings suggest that COF sway can be used instead of head sway to assess those five parameters.

Does Posturography Differentiate Malingerers from Vertiginous Patients?

Voluntary, simulated vertigo and acute vertigo due to vestibular neuritis were examined by means of static posturography in 81 tests to evaluate the extent to which intentional malingering can be detected. Thirty healthy, normal subjects were first instructed to stand as still as possible on a static force platform and then to simulate dizziness. The true cases consisted of 21 patients with vestibular neuritis. The parameters analyzed included body sway velocity (BSV), body sway area of ellipse (BSE), and the Romberg quotient. Both the simulated and pathological posturographic BSV and BSE values differed from normal values under all test conditions, but they did not differ from each other, whereas the simulated values could be differentiated from the pathological ones with the Romberg quotient based on BSV. Five staff members of our audiological department were able to differentiate between the simulations and pathological cases quite well, with a median sensitivity of 0.77 and a specificity of 0.71 in a blinded test. A posturographic measurement, even performed once, can be useful to some extent for detecting simulation, but more investigation and development of the analysis system is required to obtain more specific results. For the present, the results obtained by trained observation of the subject in the test situation are at least as reliable as those obtained through the analysis of statistical measurements.

高齢者の姿勢制御機構 転倒と視覚の関係について

Postural control mechanism and risk factors for accidental falls were studied in elderly persons. Posturography measurement was performed with vibration to stimulate calf muscles at different frequencies from 20, 40, 60, 80, to 100 Hz arranged in a pseudo-random fashions.Sway velocity was measured to reflect postural control under visual and non-visual conditions with and without vibration. Under non-visual conditions, sway velocity was increased in elderly persons. In elderly persons, postural stability was controlled much more by visual input than by referents due to deterioration of vestibular and proprioceptive control of posture. Romberg's quotient in elderly who fell frequently (fallers) differed significantly from that of those who did not fall frequently (non-fallers) (P<0.01).Fallers did not use visual input to control their posture. Proprioception from calf muscles was poorer in fallers than in the non-fallers.In risk factor analysis, lateral body sway, Romberg's quotient, poor vision, support, motility, parkinsonism and muscle hypotony were predictive for accidental falls.To prevent falls, rehabilitation programs should be attempted to enhance proprioreceptor or pressoreceptor cues. Visual input should be promoted by sufficient visual illumination and contrasting visual surroundings.

Relationship between Head Sway and Center of Foot Pressure Sway

We investigated the correlation between body sway and head sway in 64 healthy subjects who stood on a force-measuring platform. Each subject wore a helmet attached to a cephalograph and was asked to stand as still as possible on a platform with his feet close together for 60 sec. Subjects were asked to do this three times with their eyes closed and three times with their eyes open. We selected the test with the minimum sway for computer analysis of the sway path, sway area, ratio of anteroposterior/lateral components, sway velocity in each direction, averaged divisional frequency, and Romberg quotient. The movement of the head was significantly correlated with the center of foot pressure (COF) for the sway path, sway area, sway velocity, averaged divisional frequency, and the Romberg quotient. Our findings suggest that COF sway can be used instead of head sway to assess those five parameters.

Orthostatic Postural Control in Vestibular Neuritis: A Stabilometric Analysis

Posturographic data for 182 vestibular neuritis patients were recorded on a static posturographic platform (stabilometry) with the patients' eyes both open and closed. Three of the parameters studied are presented here: mean position of the center of pressure, area of the statokinesigram, and Romberg's quotient. Vestibular neuritis modifies the performance of the fine-postural system in unpredictable ways, varying with the subject. It may disturb either the mean position of the center of pressure or the integration of visual input. Sixty of the patients in this study did not use visual input to stabilize their position in relation to their surroundings. The value of stabilometry as a method for observing the integration of visual input in the control of orthostatic posture is discussed.