Comparison of postural control between subgroups of persons with nonspecific chronic low back and healthy controls during the modified Star Excursion Balance Test (original) (raw)

Forte et al.2014 Postural control moderates

Background and aims Age-related reductions in strength and power are considered to negatively impact balance control, but the existence of a direct association is still an issue of debate. This is possibly due to the fact that balance assessment is complex, reflects different underlying physiologic mechanisms and involves quantitative measurements of postural sway or timing of performance during balance tasks. The present study evaluated the moderator effect of static postural control on the association of power and strength with dynamic balance tasks. Methods Fifty-seven healthy 65-75 year old individuals performed tests of dynamic functional balance (walking speed under different conditions) and of strength, power and static postural control. Results and conclusions Dynamic balance performance (walking speed) was associated with lower limb strength and power, as well as postural control under conditions requiring postural adjustments (narrow surface walking r 2 = 0.31, p \ 0.001). An interaction effect between strength and static postural control was found with narrow surface walking and talking while walking (change of b 0.980, p \ 0.001 in strength for 1 SD improvements in static postural control for narrow walking, and b-0.730, p \ 0.01 in talking while walking). These results indicate that good static postural control facilitates the utilisation of lower limb strength to better perform complex, dynamic functional balance tasks. Practical implications for assessment and training are discussed.

Comparison of Postural Balance between Subgroups of Nonspecific Low-back Pain Patients Based on O'Sullivan Classification System and Normal Subjects during Lifting

The archives of bone and joint surgery, 2019

Background Balance disorder is one of the most-studied fields in low-back pain patients (LBP). However, there is insufficient information regarding the effect of LBP subgrouping on postural control. The purpose of the present study was to compare postural control between subgroups of chronic nonspecific LBP and healthy subjects during lifting. Methods A total of 35 men with chronic LBP (19 active extension pattern [AEP] and 16 flexion pattern [FP]) and 15 healthy controls were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Pooled LBP was subdivided based on the O'Sullivan's classification system (OCS). The participants were asked to lift a box from the ground to the waist level and hold it for 20 seconds. The load was 10% of the subject's weight. Force plate system was used to record balance parameters, including standard deviations (SDs) of center of pressure (COP) amplitude and COP velocity in anterior-posterior and medial-lateral directions and mean total velocity. The test ...

People with chronic low back pain have poorer balance than controls in challenging tasks

Disability and rehabilitation, 2017

To compare the balance of individuals with and without chronic low back pain during five tasks. The participants were 20 volunteers, 10 with and 10 without nonspecific chronic low back pain, mean age 34 years, 50% females. The participants completed the following balance tasks on a force platform in random order: (1) two-legged stance with eyes open, (2) two-legged stance with eyes closed, (3) semi-tandem with eyes open, (4) semi-tandem with eyes closed and (5) one-legged stance with eyes open. The participants completed three 60-s trials of tasks 1-4, and three 30-s trials of task 5 with 30-s rests between trials. The center of pressure area, velocity and frequency in the antero-posterior and medio-lateral directions were computed during each task, and compared between groups and tasks. Participants with chronic low back pain presented significantly larger center of pressure area and higher velocity than the healthy controls (p < 0.001). There were significant differences among ...

A comprehensive method for assessing postural control during dynamic balance testing

MethodsX, 2020

Postural control, despite its complexity, has been investigated based on single or multiple domain parameters, mainly under static conditions. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether semi-squatting in one leg, in contrast to simply standing in one leg, can challenge the postural control in a more dynamic manner similar to those encountered during sporting activities, using posturographic-based parameters coupled with EMG data of the ankle musculature. Our findings revealed that the decreased stability induced with single-leg semi-squatting (SLSQ) required primarily the contribution of the tibialis anterior and the peroneus brevis, as opposed to the medial gastrocnemius and lateral gastrocnemius who were the main controllers of body posture during singleleg standing (SLST) with open eyes. The lower variability found in the CoP-based parameters and the EMG activity of the muscle under investigation suggests that postural control can be more accurately assessed under dynamic conditions such as with SLSQ compared to the more static SLST test. Multi-factorial analysis of postural control combining posturographic and EMG data, particularly under dynamic conditions, can provide useful information in the diagnosis and rehabilitation of clinical cases where the assessment of muscle dysfunction is required to design a rehabilitation program and monitor patient progress. • Simultaneous recordings of posturographic-based parameters and the EMG activity of the ankle/foot musculature suggest that postural control is challenged more during SLSQ. • Postural control with SLSQ is mainly controlled by the tibialis anterior and peroneus brevis in response to a greater anteroposterior-compared to mediolateral-directed sway of the body. • The limited body sway elicited with the traditional SLST test is mainly controlled by the gastrocnemius muscle. • Postural control may be assessed more accurately under dynamic conditions such as with SLSQ as opposed to the standard SLST test.

Posturography Comparison and Discriminant Analysis Between Individuals With and Without Chronic Low Back Pain

Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 2020

Objective: The aims of this study were to evaluate the center of pressure (CoP) in individuals with chronic low back pain (LBP) compared with matched controls and perform discriminant analysis to detect which CoP variables differentiate the groups. Methods: Thirty-two participants with LBP and 33 matched controls were evaluated on a force plate in a bipedal static position for 30 seconds in 2 conditions: eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC). Two discriminant analyzes were performed to detect which CoP variables could discriminate between groups. Results: Those with LBP had higher values (ie, poorer balance) for most variables compared with the control group. With EO, total displacement of sway (TDS) was as follows: LBP group (median [25%-75%]) 31.77 (26.39-41.79) cm, control group 27.21 (22.29-31.78) cm, P = .008 and area: LBP group 3.31 (2.33-4.68) cm 2 , control group 1.77 (1.3-2.71) cm 2. With EC, TDS was as follows: LBP group 49.6 (39.65-68.15) cm, control group 38.77 (30.36; 45.65) cm, P = .003 and area: LBP group 4.68 (2.6-7.28) cm 2 , control group 2.4 (2.1-3.34) cm 2. The discriminating variables in the EO condition were the TDS for the LBP group and the anteroposterior mean velocity for the control group, while in the EC condition they were mediolateral dispersion and area for the LBP group. Conclusion: Individuals with chronic LBP had worse postural control performance than matched controls, and it is possible to characterize those with and without LBP with CoP variables.

ISway: a sensitive, valid and reliable measure of postural control

Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation, 2012

Background: Clinicians need a practical, objective test of postural control that is sensitive to mild neurological disease, shows experimental and clinical validity, and has good test-retest reliability. We developed an instrumented test of postural sway (ISway) using a body-worn accelerometer to offer an objective and practical measure of postural control. Methods: We conducted two separate studies with two groups of subjects. Study I: sensitivity and experimental concurrent validity. Thirteen subjects with early, untreated Parkinson's disease (PD) and 12 age-matched control subjects (CTR) were tested in the laboratory, to compare sway from force-plate COP and inertial sensors. Study II: test-retest reliability and clinical concurrent validity. A different set of 17 early-to-moderate, treated PD (tested ON medication), and 17 age-matched CTR subjects were tested in the clinic to compare clinical balance tests with sway from inertial sensors. For reliability, the sensor was removed, subjects rested for 30 min, and the protocol was repeated. Thirteen sway measures (7 time-domain, 5 frequency-domain measures, and JERK) were computed from the 2D time series acceleration (ACC) data to determine the best metrics for a clinical balance test.