Özge Onursal Kılınç1, Ender Ayvat2, Fatma Ayvat2, Gülşah Sütçü2, Muhammed Kılınç2, Songül Aksoy3, Sibel Aksu Yıldırım2. 1. Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: ozgeonursal@hotmail.com. 2. Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. 3. Department of Audiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The proprioceptive system plays a role in the maintenance of postural control more than the visual and vestibular systems in ataxic patients with postural control disorders, but the relationship between trunk proprioception and postural control has not been sufficiently investigated yet. This relationship can provide a different perspective to the ataxia rehabilitation. RESEARCH QUESTION: This study aimed to examine the relationship between trunk position sense and postural control in ataxic individuals by comparing them to healthy individuals. METHODS: Twenty ataxic and 20 healthy individuals were included. The Sensory Organization Test, Limits of Stability Test, and Unilateral Stance Test in the Computerized Dynamic Posturography and Berg Balance Scale were used to evaluate postural control. The Baseline Digital Inclinometer (Norwalk, CA, USA) measured trunk position sense. RESULTS: It was found that repositioning error degree of the trunk position sense was higher in ataxic individuals than in healthy individuals, including scores of clinical and objective tests in postural control evaluation: they were lower in ataxic individuals (p < 0.05). As a result, trunk position sense was associated with almost all evaluated parameters, including sensory integration, postural sway, limits of stability, and functional balance (p < 0.05). SIGNIFICANCE: The impairment of postural control, which is the most important cause of activity and participation limitations in ataxic patients, is not only affected by motor disorders, but by sensory disturbances. Our study demonstrated that impairment of the trunk position sense in ataxic individuals was higher than that of healthy individuals, and affected the different components of postural control.
BACKGROUND: The proprioceptive system plays a role in the maintenance of postural control more than the visual and vestibular systems in ataxicpatients with postural control disorders, but the relationship between trunk proprioception and postural control has not been sufficiently investigated yet. This relationship can provide a different perspective to the ataxia rehabilitation. RESEARCH QUESTION: This study aimed to examine the relationship between trunk position sense and postural control in ataxic individuals by comparing them to healthy individuals. METHODS: Twenty ataxic and 20 healthy individuals were included. The Sensory Organization Test, Limits of Stability Test, and Unilateral Stance Test in the Computerized Dynamic Posturography and Berg Balance Scale were used to evaluate postural control. The Baseline Digital Inclinometer (Norwalk, CA, USA) measured trunk position sense. RESULTS: It was found that repositioning error degree of the trunk position sense was higher in ataxic individuals than in healthy individuals, including scores of clinical and objective tests in postural control evaluation: they were lower in ataxic individuals (p < 0.05). As a result, trunk position sense was associated with almost all evaluated parameters, including sensory integration, postural sway, limits of stability, and functional balance (p < 0.05). SIGNIFICANCE: The impairment of postural control, which is the most important cause of activity and participation limitations in ataxicpatients, is not only affected by motor disorders, but by sensory disturbances. Our study demonstrated that impairment of the trunk position sense in ataxic individuals was higher than that of healthy individuals, and affected the different components of postural control.