Test-Retest Reliability of Low-Cost Posturography for Assessing Postural Stability Control Performance during...

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Medical Device Development

Background:

• Postural stability control is crucial for individuals at risk of falling or with balance impairments.
• Instrumented posturography offers valid and reliable assessment but is often limited by cost and setup complexity.
• Developing accessible assessment tools is essential for widespread clinical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate the test-retest reliability of a novel, low-cost posturography system for assessing standing postural stability control.
• To determine the accuracy and reliability of the developed system in measuring center of pressure (COP) parameters.

Main Methods:

• A low-cost posturography device was constructed using four load cells and an acrylic platform.
• Custom software was utilized to analyze center of pressure (COP) displacement and velocity.
• Test-retest reliability was assessed in 20 healthy volunteers across six standing postural stability tests over two days, using ICC, SEM, CV, and Bland-Altman analysis.

Main Results:

• The system demonstrated high accuracy (ICC=0.99) when compared to true coordinates.
• Moderate to excellent test-retest reliability was found for COP displacement (ICCs 0.62-0.91) and COP velocity (ICCs 0.62-0.91).
• Bland-Altman analysis indicated good agreement for tested parameters between different measurement days.

Conclusions:

• The developed low-cost posturography system exhibits adequate reliability for assessing postural stability control.
• This affordable system provides a viable alternative for evaluating COP displacement and velocity in clinical and research settings.
• The findings support the use of this low-cost posturography for individuals needing balance assessment.