Head position influence on stabilographic variables

Head constitutes 6% of our body weight and significantly influences human body motor system mechanics. From physiological point of view, it should be located at extension of body middle line. Its location being modified results in many consequences in motor system. Our research was aimed at assessing the influence of head position on human body balance stabilographic variables.

The research was made on a group of 62 patients: 45 women and 17 men, aged from 40 to 60 yrs, 46 yrs on average. Head position in sagittal and frontal plane was assessed with photogrammetric method. Chosen stability parameters were estimated with dynamometric platform PEL 38 and computer software TWIN 99.

The results confirmed correlations between existing stabilographic values and head position in frontal plane only. Head position, when changed in this plane, increased the amplitude ( p = 0.001) and average speed of body gravity center trembilng ( p = 0.002). There were no significant relations found in sagittal plane ( p > 0.05).

Our results show that the head position influences stabilographic variables. Its change in frontal plane decreases body posture stability to the largest extent.