Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2026
06:31
Estimating Vestibular Perceptual Thresholds Using a Six-Degree-Of-Freedom Motion Platform
Published on: August 4, 2022
Factors affecting postural instability in Meniere's disease.
Chisato Fujimoto1, Naoya Egami, Makoto Kinoshita
1Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Summary
Ménière
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Otolaryngology
- Vestibular System Disorders
Background:
- Ménière's disease (MD) is a disorder of the inner ear.
- Postural instability is a common symptom in MD patients.
- Factors influencing postural instability in MD require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess factors influencing postural instability in Ménière's disease patients.
- To identify relationships between postural control variables and patient-specific factors.
Main Methods:
- Case-control study involving 54 MD patients and 66 controls.
- Postural stability assessed using two-legged stance tasks under various conditions (eyes open/closed, foam/firm surface).
- Analyzed center of pressure (COP) velocity, area, Romberg ratios, and foam ratios.
Main Results:
- MD patients exhibited significantly poorer postural performance across all measured variables.
- Abnormal vestibular function (caloric/cVEMP) correlated with increased postural sway.
- Shorter intervals since the last vertigo attack were associated with greater postural instability.
Conclusions:
- Ménière's disease significantly impairs postural control.
- Peripheral vestibular function and recent vertigo attacks are key determinants of postural instability in MD.
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