[Evaluation of postural sway in normals and patients with vertigoes]

A measurable parameter in the study of static equilibrium was described. The locus of postural sway was measured with a set of computer during 1 minute period in 68 normal subjects and 82 patients suffering from central and peripheral vertigoes with eyes closed. The results demonstrated: 1) There are five patterns of postural sway: centripetal, forward-backward, right-left, diffuse and multicentric patterns; centripetal pattern was the most prominent figure pattern in the normal subjects, diffuse pattern was the most prominent figure pattern in the central vertigoes. 2) Length of locus and velocity of postural sway of the patients were significantly increased in comparison with normal subjects. 3) The length of locus was the shortest and velocity of sway was the slowest in the 20-year group. There was difference between 20- year and 10-year group (P < 0.05), the difference between 20-year and 50-year was more significant (P < 0.01).