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Visual input: its importance in the control of postural sway
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
|December 1, 1978
Summary
Above-knee amputees show increased reliance on vision for balance, indicating a loss of proprioception. Postural sway measurements can clinically assess this visual dependency.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Human Physiology
- Clinical Measurement
Background:
- Static equilibrium is crucial for posture.
- Proprioception and kinesthetic sense are key components of balance.
- Above-knee amputation affects sensory input.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a new measurable parameter for static equilibrium.
- To quantify the impact of above-knee amputation on proprioception and visual dependency.
- To assess the clinical utility of postural sway analysis.
Main Methods:
- Measured postural sway using a minicomputer in 144 subjects (105 controls, 39 amputees).
- Compared sway between amputee and control groups with eyes open and closed.
- Calculated the eyes open/eyes closed ratio to assess visual dependency.
Main Results:
- No significant age dependency was found for postural sway.
- Mean locus of sway was similar between groups with eyes open.
- The eyes open/eyes closed ratio significantly increased in amputees (p < 0.001), indicating greater visual reliance.
Conclusions:
- Postural sway analysis offers a novel clinical measurement for static equilibrium.
- The eyes open/eyes closed ratio effectively quantifies visual dependency in patients.
- This method can aid in understanding balance deficits post-amputation.