Ann Rehabil Med.  2012 Oct;36(5):618-626.

Computerized Posturographic Measurement in Elderly Women with Unilateral Knee Osteoarthritis

• Lim KB
• Lee HJ

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To identify the subtle change of postural control in elderly patients with unilateral knee osteoarthritis (OA) with computerized dynamic posturography. METHOD: Twenty-two healthy women and twenty-six women with unilateral knee OA, aged 60 and over, were enrolled. The computerized posturographic measures included a weight bearing pattern during squatting and sit-to-stand, sway velocity of center of gravity (COG) during one leg standing, on-axis velocity and directional control of COG during rhythmic weight shift, rising index during sit-to-stand, end sway during tandem walk, and movement time during step up/over.
RESULTS
It was shown that patients bore significantly less weight on the affected side during the 30degrees and 60degrees squat and sit-to-stand. Sway velocity of COG during one leg standing was greater whereas the on-axis velocity and directional control during the front/back rhythmic weight shift were significantly lower in the patient group. The rising index during sit-to-stand was significantly lower and movement time during step up/over with the affected side was significantly longer in patients.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrated in detail a decline of postural balance by utilizing computerized posturography in elderly women with unilateral knee OA. They had less weight-bearing, more sway, and less ability of intentional postural control on the affected side.

Keyword

Balance; Posture; Osteoarthritis; Knee

MeSH Terms

Aged
Female
Gravitation
Humans
Knee
Leg
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis, Knee
Postural Balance
Posture
Weight-Bearing

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Computerized posturographic measurement using the Balance Mater System®, which consists of a force platform and a computer. Using this system, we measured the weight bearing pattern (A), sway velocity of center of gravity (COG) of the body during one leg standing (B), on-axis velocity and directional control during rhythmic weight shift (C), rising index during sit-to-stand (D), end sway during tandem gait (E), and movement time during step up/over task (F).

• 

  Fig. 2 Balance Master System® can measure the amount of sway in any direction by sampling the vertical force. The sway angle of the center of gravity (COG) is the angle between a vertical line projecting upward from the center of the area of feet support and a second line projecting from the same point to the subject's COG. The COG sway velocity is the ratio of the distance traveled by the COG (degrees) to the time (sec) of the trial.

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  Fig. 3 One-leg standing test. There was a significant difference in the mean center of gravity (COG) and sway velocity (°/sec) between the affected legs and healthy legs of the control (*p=0.01).

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  Fig. 4 The positive relationship between the movement time of the affected legs during the step up/over test and ambulatory knee pain intensity using a visual analog scale (r=0.42, p=0.01).

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