Comparing sensory organization test measures of the Bertec® Balance Advantage® CDP/IVRTM and NeuroCom® Smart EquiTest® computerized dynamic posturography systems in young and older healthy adults
Karson Curran , Galen Holland , Mark S. Redfern , Rakié Cham
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
The Sensory Organization Test (SOT) on computerized dynamic posturography (CDP) platforms is a tool used to assess standing balance. The Neurocom Smart Equitest (Natus Balance & Mobility, Inc.) is an established CDP device and has been used in clinics and research since the 1980s. However, it is no longer produced nor maintained. Recently a new platform, the Bertec® Balance Advantage® CDP/IVRTM (Bertec Corporation, Columbus, OH), has come onto the market as a potential replacement for the NeuroCom. The two systems use different techniques for manipulating visual inputs, and thus it is unclear if performance measures from the two systems are comparable.
Research question
The primary aim was to compare intrasubject SOT performance on Bertec CDP/IVR and NeuroCom EquiTest platforms. The second aim was to compare SOT performance for young and older healthy adults on the two platforms.
Methods
Thirty-one (N = 31) participants were recruited and divided in two age groups (Older, Young). All participants attended two sessions of testing approximately one week apart. At each session, the standard clinical SOT (six conditions, three 20 s trials each) was conducted on one of the balance platforms. SOT performance was assessed via sway measures: the root-mean-square (RMS) and mean velocity of the center of pressure, as well as the standard Equilibrium (EQ) Score.
Results and significance
There were significant differences in the measures of sway between the Bertec and Equitest platforms, particularly conditions 4–6. As expected, there were significant differences in sway metrics between the young and older participants. However, both age groups were consistent within each of the two platforms. These results indicate that new normative databases may need to be established specific to the Bertec system, and that results of the two systems should be compared with caution. Further research with a larger sample and diverse populations is needed.
期刊介绍:
Gait & Posture is a vehicle for the publication of up-to-date basic and clinical research on all aspects of locomotion and balance.
The topics covered include: Techniques for the measurement of gait and posture, and the standardization of results presentation; Studies of normal and pathological gait; Treatment of gait and postural abnormalities; Biomechanical and theoretical approaches to gait and posture; Mathematical models of joint and muscle mechanics; Neurological and musculoskeletal function in gait and posture; The evolution of upright posture and bipedal locomotion; Adaptations of carrying loads, walking on uneven surfaces, climbing stairs etc; spinal biomechanics only if they are directly related to gait and/or posture and are of general interest to our readers; The effect of aging and development on gait and posture; Psychological and cultural aspects of gait; Patient education.