The relationship of the vestibular and proprioceptive systems to dysfunction in verticality perception, posture and...

The extent to which verticality perception influences posture and movement is of considerable importance to the physiotherapist. To determine the relative contributions of the vestibular and proprioceptive systems to visuo-spatial perception after stroke and the relationship of verticality perception to body alignment and utilisation of space during movement, a study was undertaken in the Department of Physiotherapy, University of Queensland. Forty stroke patients, divided into experimental groups on the basis of quality of verticality perception, were selected for study, while twenty two 'non-stroke' subjects, matched for age and sex, formed a control group. Measurements were taken of proprioception, body alignment, utilisation of space during movement, verticality perception and duration of post rotational nystagmus. Analyses of the correlations between these various modalities revealed those features which are of most significance to the perception of verticality, posture and movement of the stroke patient. From these results, implications for the physiotherapy management of the stroke patient with problems in verticality perception, body alignment and utilisation of space during movement, have been drawn.