[Quantified research of measuring postural balance by posturography using inclinometer technique in normal subjects].

OBJECTIVE: To measure the normal values of a new type of posturography using inclinometer technique. METHODS: A total of 98 normal persons, including 48 males and 50 females, aged 20 - 59, were measured. The messages of postural average sway angular velocity and the angle of deflection were recorded by an inclined sensor fixed at the waist. Four tests were conducted in opening and closing eyes respectively: standing upright, walking forward, walking forward and backward repeatedly and walking at original site. The subjects were grouped by age and gender. Group A, aged 20-39, had 54 persons. Group B, aged 40-59, had 44 persons. The statistical significance was analyzed by T test. RESULTS: The swaying extent in closing eyes was wider than that in opening eyes. The average sway angular velocities (degree/S, positive value: right and forward, negative value: left and backward) of male patients in the four tests in opening and closing eyes respectively were: 0.99, -0.35, 0.03, 0.02, 1.08, -0.36, 0.10, 0.02. Those of female patients were respectively: 1.04, -0.36, -0.01, 0.01, 1.22, -0.37, 0.04, 0.06. And those of patients in group A and B were respectively: 1.01, 0.41, -0.01, -0.01, 1.10, 0.26, -0.03, 0.03 and 1.02, -0.76, 0.03, 0.04, 1.20, -0.99, 0.17, 0.05. There was no statistical significance grouped by age and gender. CONCLUSION: The normal reference values are provided here. There is no difference between males and females. It may be applicable in all subjects of 20 - 59 yr. This instrument can quantify the results of walking test so as to evaluate the balance function of vestibo-spinal system more accurately.

[Clinical application of posturography with inclinometer and platform with global bottom].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of posturography with inclinometer and platform with global bottom to make the subjects contact the ground almost at one point in the evaluation of body balance function. METHODS: The body balance function of 100 normal persons, 50 males and 50 females, aged 21 approximately 50, and 87 patients with peripheral vertigo due to semicircular canal palsy, aged 20 approximately 60, was measured with a new type of posturograph with inclinometer and platform with global bottom developed by the authors. The subjects with an inclination-sensor being fixed at the waist were asked to adopt four postures during the measurement: standing on the ground with eyes opened (test 1), standing on the ground with the eyes closed (test 2), standing on the platform with the eyes opened (test 3), and standing on the platform with the eyes closed (test 4). RESULTS: The measurement of the normal persons showed the average values of body sway angle velocity were 0.57 +/- 0.24 d/s in test 1, 0.70 +/- 0.18 d/s in test 2, 1.16 +/- 0.32 d/s in test 3, and 2.67 +/- 0.70 d/s in test 4. Sixty-two out of the 87 patients (71.26%) showed abnormality in one or more than one of the 4 tests with a value more than x +/- 2s of the normal value, among them 7 showed abnormal value in test 1, 14 in test 2, 16 in test 16, and 56 in test 4. Two weeks after the onset of vertigo, 55 out of the 87 patients showed abnormal values by this examination. CONCLUSION: Posturography with inclinometer and platform with global bottom is effective on evaluation of balance function, In particular, the test of standing on the platform with the eyes closed effectively reflects the vestibulospinal reflex.

[Normative data and clinical practice of sinusoidal harmonic acceleration test].

OBJECTIVE: To establish the normative data of sinusoidal harmonic acceleration test (SHAT) and evaluate the value of clinical application. METHODS: One hundred and twenty normal persons, 21 Meniere's disease patients, 2 bilateral vestibular peripheral lesion patients, 15 unilateral vestibular peripheral lesion patients and 10 central lesion patients were tested with SHAT. RESULTS: The calibration time was longer in the older persons. The phase decreased with the frequency, and the gain increased with the frequency, but the reliability of the re-test of the phase was better in the lower frequency. The results of the 7 Meniere's disease patients without symptoms were normal, 14 patients post-attack revealed abnormal, 11 had phase abnormal, 3 had gain decrease, 10 revealed asymmetry and spontaneous nystagmus simultaneously, 8 patients had two parameters abnormal. The unilateral vestibular peripheral lesion patients showed 73% (11/15) phase abnormal, 67% (10/15) gain decrease and 40% (6/15) asymmetry, while 5/6 asymmetry patients had spontaneous nystagmus. The gain of the bilateral vestibular peripheral lesion patients showed severe decrease. The abnormal rate in central lesion patients were 70% (7/10) in phase, 20% (2/10) in gain and 40% (4/10) in asymmetry, but the patients with asymmetry had no spontaneous nystagmus. CONCLUSIONS: The normal range of the phase, gain and asymmetry of SHAT is in narrow bandwidth. The phase is the most important abnormal sign.