Esther Domènech-Vadillo1,2, Gabriel Aguilera-Aguilera3, Carmen Sánchez-Blanco3, Ángel Batuecas-Caletrio3, Carlos Guajardo4, Nicolás Pérez4, Gabriel Trinidad-Ruiz5, Carlos Gimeno6, Julio Rama7, Marcos Rossi-Izquierdo8, Elena San-Roman-Rodriguez8, Berta Patiño-Castiñeira8, Juan Manuel Espinosa-Sanchez9, Eusebi Matiñó10, Rafael Barona11, Claudio Krstulovic11, Jesús Benitez-Rosario12, Elvira Santandreu13, Francisco Carlos Zuma E Maia14, María Guadalupe Álvarez-Morujo de Sande15, Ariadna Valldeperes16, Jorge Rey-Martínez16,17. 1. Servei d'Otorrinolaringologia, Hospital Universitari Joan XXIII de Tarragona, c/Dr. Mallafré Guasch, 4, 43005, Tarragona, Spain. estherdova@hotmail.com. 2. Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, Reus, Spain. estherdova@hotmail.com. 3. Servicio de ORL y CCC, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain. 4. Unidad de Otorrinolaringología, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain. 5. Unidad de Otorrinolaringología, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Badajoz, Badajoz, Spain. 6. Unidad de Otorrinolaringología, Clínica Rotger, Palma de Mallorca, Spain. 7. Unidad de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Universitari Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, Spain. 8. Unidad de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Universitario Lucus Augusti, Lugo, Spain. 9. Unidad de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain. 10. Unidad de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital General de Catalunya, San Cugat del Vallés, Barcelona, Spain. 11. Unidad de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Casa de la Salud, Valencia, Spain. 12. Unidad de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Dr. Negrín, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. 13. Unidad de Rehabilitación, Complejo Hospitario Universitario Insular-Materno Infantil, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. 14. Clinica Maia, Canoas, Brazil. 15. Unidad de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, Cádiz, Spain. 16. Unidad de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Universitario Donostia, San Sebastián, Spain. 17. Unidad de Otorrinolaringología, Clínica Quirón Donostia, San Sebastián, Spain.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Computerized posturography is the gold standard for balance assessment. Because of the great cost and dimensions of commercial equipments, low-cost and portable devices have been developed and validated, such as RombergLab, a software in open source term which works connected with a low-cost force platform. The objective of this study was to obtain normative posturography data using this software. METHODS: A multicentric prospective and descriptive study, with 350 healthy participants, was designed. Static postural stability (measured using the modified clinical test of sensory interaction on balance) was evaluated using the software connected to the force platform. Using the confidence ellipse area (CEA) in each condition, global equilibrium score (GES) was calculated and adjusted for significant variable factors using cluster analysis. RESULTS: Mean (SD) GES was 0.72 (0.22). Age (p < 0.01), height (p < 0.01) and recruitment center (p < 0.05) were found as influence factors for GES. Cluster analysis obtained 16 groups stratified by age and height. GES decreases with age and height (p < 0.005). No significant interaction of age nor height was found with GES in these clusters (p > 0.05). After correction for height and age, GES was no longer influenced by the recruitment center (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: With the introduction of the global equilibrium score values of the present study into the software, we consider RombergLab v1.3 a reference posturography tool for healthy individuals. Further studies are needed for validating it as a suitable instrumented test for screening between healthy and pathologic subjects and its reliability over time for the follow-up of patients.
PURPOSE: Computerized posturography is the gold standard for balance assessment. Because of the great cost and dimensions of commercial equipments, low-cost and portable devices have been developed and validated, such as RombergLab, a software in open source term which works connected with a low-cost force platform. The objective of this study was to obtain normative posturography data using this software. METHODS: A multicentric prospective and descriptive study, with 350 healthy participants, was designed. Static postural stability (measured using the modified clinical test of sensory interaction on balance) was evaluated using the software connected to the force platform. Using the confidence ellipse area (CEA) in each condition, global equilibrium score (GES) was calculated and adjusted for significant variable factors using cluster analysis. RESULTS: Mean (SD) GES was 0.72 (0.22). Age (p < 0.01), height (p < 0.01) and recruitment center (p < 0.05) were found as influence factors for GES. Cluster analysis obtained 16 groups stratified by age and height. GES decreases with age and height (p < 0.005). No significant interaction of age nor height was found with GES in these clusters (p > 0.05). After correction for height and age, GES was no longer influenced by the recruitment center (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: With the introduction of the global equilibrium score values of the present study into the software, we consider RombergLab v1.3 a reference posturography tool for healthy individuals. Further studies are needed for validating it as a suitable instrumented test for screening between healthy and pathologic subjects and its reliability over time for the follow-up of patients.
Authors: Diane M Wrisley; Marilee J Stephens; Shaun Mosley; Adam Wojnowski; Jordan Duffy; Robert Burkard Journal: Arch Phys Med Rehabil Date: 2007-08 Impact factor: 3.966
Authors: Karl S Rosengren; Karthikeyan Rajendran; Jonas Contakos; Li-Ling Chuang; Melissa Peterson; Richard Doyle; Edward McAuley Journal: Gait Posture Date: 2006-05-02 Impact factor: 2.840