Ann Rehabil Med.  2012 Feb;36(1):112-118. 10.5535/arm.2012.36.1.112.

Factors Affecting Test Results and Standardized Method in Quiet Standing Balance Evaluation

• Yoon JJ
• Yoon TS
• Shin BM
• Na EH

• KMID: 2266788
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2012.36.1.112

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To identify factors affecting test results of the quiet standing balance evaluation conducted by posturography and to investigate the standardized method by comparing results according to feet width. METHOD: The study cohort consisted of 100 healthy individuals. We assessed the quiet standing balance of subjects by using 3 different methods: standing on a force plate with feet width the same as shoulder width (test 1); with feet width the same as half the shoulder width (test 2); with feet width determined by the subject's comfort (test 3). Subjects underwent each test with their eyes open and closed for 30 seconds each time. Parameters for measuring standing balance included the mean mediolateral and anteroposterior extent, speed, and the velocity moment of center of pressure (COP) movement.
RESULTS
All parameters showed better results when the subject's eyes were open rather than closed, and the mean AP extent and speed increased as the age of the subjects increased (p<0.01). However, there was no significant correlation between height and the study parameters, and no differences between men and women. Mean mediolateral extent and speed were significantly longer and faster in test 1 compared with tests 2 and 3 (p<0.01). The results of test 2 were better than the results of test 3, but the difference was not statistically significant.
CONCLUSION
COP movements increased with age and when subjects closed their eyes in an evaluation of quiet standing balance conducted by posturography. Gender and height did not affect results of the test. We suggest that an appropriate method for conducting posturography is to have the subject stand on a force plate with their feet width the same as half the shoulder width, because this posture provided relatively accurate balance capacity.

Keyword

Balance; Evaluation; Method

MeSH Terms

Cohort Studies
Eye
Female
Foot
Humans
Male
Posture
Shoulder

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 (A) An example of a quiet standing balance test conducted using the Good Balance Evaluator is shown. Feet width is distance between the centers of both heels. (B) Shoulder width is distance between both acromial angles.

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