Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Effects of hypobaric hypoxia on postural control

S H Nordahl1, T Aasen, J O Owe

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.

Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
|June 26, 1998
PubMed
Summary

Hypobaric hypoxia significantly impacts postural control, increasing body sway, especially when vision is relied upon. These effects on balance were most pronounced in the anteroposterior plane and largely reversible upon return to ground level.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Short-term information pattern in optokinetic nystagmus amplitude time series.

Journal of vestibular research : equilibrium & orientation·2013
Same author

Can air pollution affect tear film stability? A cross-sectional study in the aftermath of an explosion accident.

BMC public health·2011
Same author

A novel M163L mutation in connexin 26 causing cell death and associated with autosomal dominant hearing loss.

Hearing research·2008
Same author

A novel hearing-loss-related mutation occurring in the GJB2 basal promoter.

Journal of medical genetics·2007
Same author

Postural control in a simulated saturation dive to 240 msw.

Undersea & hyperbaric medicine : journal of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, Inc·2007
Same author

Symbolic dynamics applied to optokinetic nystagmus signals.

Journal of medical engineering & technology·2003

Area of Science:

  • Aerospace Medicine
  • Human Physiology
  • Vestibular System

Background:

  • Limited research exists on hypobaric conditions' effects on postural control.
  • Accelerative forces' impact on the vestibular system is well-studied, but less is known about altitude's influence on balance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of hypobaric hypoxia on postural control.
  • To determine if moderate hypobaric hypoxia reduces postural control.

Main Methods:

  • 16 military aircrew underwent postural control assessments using a static balance platform.
  • Measurements were taken with eyes open and closed, before, during, and after exposure to a simulated altitude of 25,000 ft.
  • Both subjective and objective measures of postural control were employed.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • No subjective dizziness or clinical unsteadiness was reported.
  • Significant increases in body sway were observed at altitudes of 8,000, 14,000, and 18,000 ft compared to baseline.
  • Increased sway was more pronounced in the eyes-open condition and primarily affected anteroposterior movements.

Conclusions:

  • Acute hypobaric hypoxia affects postural control, particularly in the anteroposterior plane when vision is used.
  • This suggests that vision is highly susceptible to oxygen deprivation.
  • Postural control largely recovered upon return to ground level.