scholarly journals Differences in Balance Function Between Cancer Survivors and Healthy Subjects: A Pilot Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 1144-1149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shinichiro Morishita ◽  
Yuta Mitobe ◽  
Atsuhiro Tsubaki ◽  
Osamu Aoki ◽  
Jack B. Fu ◽  
...  

Older adults who have survived cancer experience significantly more falls compared with healthy adults. Adult cancer survivors may also have a lower balance function than healthy adults. We examined muscle strength and balance function among 19 cancer survivors and 14 healthy subjects. The mean age of the cancer survivors was 51.5 ± 11.2 years; 6 men and 13 women. Cancer diagnoses included breast cancer, retroperitoneal sarcoma, acute leukemia, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, thyroid cancer, Ewing’s sarcoma, and tongue cancer. The mean age of healthy subjects was 47.4 ± 14 years; 3 men, 11 women. Muscle strength was assessed using hand grip and knee extensor strength tests. Balance function was evaluated using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and body sway was tested using a force platform. No significant differences were found with respect to right and left grip strength or right and left knee extension strength between the 2 groups. A significantly higher TUG time was observed in cancer survivors than in healthy subjects ( P < .05). With eyes open, the area of the center of pressure was significantly larger in cancer survivors than in healthy subjects ( P < .05). Similarly, the length per area was significantly lower both with eyes open and closed for cancer survivors than for healthy subjects ( P < .05). TUG was significantly correlated with muscle strength in both groups ( P < .05). However, no body sway parameters were related to muscle strength in either group. Cancer survivors had lower balance function that might not have been related to muscle strength. Cancer survivors should be evaluated for balance function as there is a potential for impairment. The findings of this study will be relevant for planning the prevention of falls for cancer survivors.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shinichiro Morishita ◽  
Ryo Hirabayashi ◽  
Atsuhiro Tsubaki ◽  
Osamu Aoki ◽  
Jack B Fu ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives We aimed to investigate the differences as well as the relationship between muscle strength, balance function, quality of life (QOL), and fatigue in cancer survivors and healthy subjects. Design A cross-sectional observational study.Setting The Relay For Life Niigata in JapanParticipants Forty-one cancer survivors and 33 healthy subjects were included. Methods Muscle strength was evaluated via handgrip and knee extensor strength. Balance function was evaluated using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and body sway was tested using a force platform. QOL was assessed using the Medical Outcome Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey. Fatigue was measured using the brief fatigue inventory. Results Cancer survivors exhibited significantly decreased muscle strength, higher TUG, lower QOL, and higher fatigue than healthy subjects (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups for any parameters of the body sway tests. There was a relationship between body sway test and QOL (P < 0.05) among cancer survivors. Additionally, some subscales for fatigue and QOL (P < 0.05) were related among cancer survivors; these relationships were stronger than those observed among healthy subjects. Conclusion Cancer survivors have the same balance function as healthy subjects despite a decrease in muscle strength. Cancer survivors initially tend to have decreased muscle strength, and thereafter worse balance function.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Osamu Aoki ◽  
Yoshitaka Otani ◽  
Shinichiro Morishita

Gazing at objects at a near distance (small eye-object distance) can reduce body sway. However, whether body sway is regulated by movement in the mediolateral or anteroposterior direction remains unclear. Galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) can induce body tilting in the mediolateral or anteroposterior direction. This study examined the directionality of the eye-object distance effect, using body-tilting GVS manipulations. Ten healthy subjects (aged 21.1 ± 0.3 years) stood on a force plate covered with a piece of foamed rubber and either closed their eyes or gazed at a marker located 0.5 m, 1.0 m, or 1.5 m in front of them. The GVS polarities were set to evoke rightward, forward, and backward body tilts. To compare the effects of eye-object distance in the mediolateral and anteroposterior directions, the root mean square (RMS) of the center of pressure (COP) without GVS was subtracted from the COP RMS during GVS. For swaying in the mediolateral direction, significant visual condition-related differences were found during rightward and forward GVS (p < 0.05). Thus, reductions in mediolateral body sway are more evident for smaller eye-object distances during rightward GVS. It would be appropriate to use body-tilting GVS to detect the directionality of the eye-object distance effect.


2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Margarida Ferreira ◽  
Cristina Mesquita ◽  
Paula Santos ◽  
João Borges ◽  
Maria Graça ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease that leads to a limitation of mobility, which can cause postural deficits and progressive loss of balance. Aquatic exercise improves this health condition. The objetive is to verify the influence of an aquatic exercise program, on balance and functionality, in individuals with AS. Methods Pre-experimental study carried out on 6 individuals with AS. All individuals were assessed at baseline (M0) and 12 weeks after the intervention (M1) using the Bath indices (BASMI, BASFI and BASDAI) and the balance assessment protocol (‘Body Sway’) by the Physiosensing Platform. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Program Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 26. Were used descriptive statistics and Wilcoxon test to compare M0 and M1. The significance value was 0.05. Results We verify improvements in BASMI (P = 0.046), BASFI (P = 0.042) and BASDAI (P = 0.027) scores. Through the analysis of the center of pressure variables, there were no statistically significant differences, between moments, in the protocol. However, when assessing balance, in the anteroposterior mean distance in both the protocol (eyes open) and in the protocol (eyes closed), in the root mean square in both protocols and in mediolateral mean velocity, only in the protocol (eyes open), there was a slight decrease in the median value. Conclusions The present study suggests that the specific aquatic exercise program, may influence balance and improve functionality in a population with AS. Therefore, the Bath indices translate improvements in the symptoms and functionalities of these participants.


2007 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alecia Puls ◽  
Phillip Gribble

Context:Thera-Band™ (TB) exercises are commonly utilized in ankle rehabilitation, but previous studies have shown inconsistent results.Objective:To compare two TB protocols among healthy subjects in improving postural control.Design:Mixed model design.Setting:Research laboratory.Participants:Thirty healthy subjects divided into a control (CON), three times/week (TB3) or five times/week (TB5) group.Intervention:Training groups completed TB quick-kick protocols for six weeks either three (TB3) or five times (TB5) per week.Main Outcome Measure:Center of pressure velocity in the anterior/posterior (COPVX) and medial/lateral (COPVY) directions.Results:There were no differences related to Group or Side. COPVX in the eyes open (EO) condition increased pre-post. COPVY decreased pre-post.Conclusion:The lack of differences between Groups and Side indicates these specific TB training protocols did not impact static postural control differently among healthy subjects.


2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo H. Marchetti ◽  
Maria I.V. Orselli ◽  
Marcos Duarte

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of unilateral and bilateral fatigue on both postural and power bipedal tasks. Ten healthy subjects performed two tasks: bipedal quiet standing and a maximal bipedal counter-movement jumping before and after unilateral (with either the dominant or nondominant lower limb) and bilateral (with both lower limbs) fatigue. We employed two force plates (one under each lower limb) to measure the ground reaction forces and center of pressure produced by subjects during the tasks. To quantify the postural sway during quiet standing, we calculated the resultant center of pressure (COP) speed and COP area of sway, as well as the mean weight distribution between lower limbs. To quantify the performance during the countermovement jumping, we calculated the jump height and the peak force of each lower limb. We observed that both unilateral and bilateral fatigue affected the performance of maximal voluntary jumping and standing tasks and that the effects of unilateral and bilateral fatigue were stronger in the dominant limb than in the nondominant limb during bipedal tasks. We conclude that unilateral neuromuscular fatigue affects both postural and power tasks negatively.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. e0258590
Author(s):  
Chihiro Ninomiya ◽  
Harukazu Hiraumi ◽  
Kiyoshi Yonemoto ◽  
Hiroaki Sato

Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of hearing aids on body balance function in a strictly controlled auditory environment. Methods We recorded the findings of 10 experienced hearing aid users and 10 normal-hearing participants. All the participants were assessed using posturography under eight conditions in an acoustically shielded non-reverberant room: (1) eyes open with sound stimuli, with and without foam rubber, (2) eyes closed with sound stimuli, with and without foam rubber, (3) eyes open without sound stimuli, with and without foam rubber, and (4) eyes closed without sound stimuli, with and without foam rubber. Results The auditory cue improved the total path area and sway velocity in both the hearing aid users and normal-hearing participants. The analysis of variance showed that the interaction among eye condition, sound condition, and between-group factor was significant in the maximum displacement of the center-of-pressure in the mediolateral axis (F [1, 18] = 6.19, p = 0.02). The maximum displacement of the center-of-pressure in the mediolateral axis improved with the auditory cues in the normal-hearing participants in the eyes closed condition (5.4 cm and 4.7 cm, p < 0.01). In the hearing aid users, this difference was not significant (5.9 cm and 5.7 cm, p = 0.45). The maximum displacement of the center-of-pressure in the anteroposterior axis improved in both the hearing aid users and the normal-hearing participants.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akiyoshi Matsugi ◽  
Kosuke Oku ◽  
Nobuhiko Mori

Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether galvanic vestibular stimulation with stochastic noise (nGVS) modulates the body sway and muscle activity of the lower limbs, depending on visual and somatosensory information from the foot using rubber-foam.Methods: Seventeen healthy young adults participated in the study. Each subject maintained an upright standing position on a force plate with/without rubber-foam, with their eyes open/closed, to measure the position of their foot center of pressure. Thirty minutes after baseline measurements under four possible conditions (eyes open/closed with/without rubber-foam) performed without nGVS (intensity: 1 mA, duration: 40 s), the stimulation trials (sham-nGVS/real-nGVS) were conducted under the same conditions in random order, which were then repeated a week or more later. The total center of pressure (COP) path length movement (COP-TL) and COP movement velocity in the mediolateral (Vel-ML) and anteroposterior (Vel-AP) directions were recorded for 30 s during nGVS. Furthermore, electromyography activity of the right tibial anterior muscle and soleus muscle was recorded for the same time and analyzed.Results: Three-way analysis of variance and post-hoc multiple comparison revealed a significant increment in COP-related parameters by nGVS, and a significant increment in soleus muscle activity on rubber. There was no significant effect of eye condition on any parameter.Conclusions: During nGVS (1 mA), body sway and muscle activity in the lower limb may be increased depending not on the visual condition, but on the foot somatosensory condition.


2018 ◽  
Vol 61 ◽  
pp. e286
Author(s):  
S. Morishita ◽  
Y. Mitobe ◽  
Tsubaki ◽  
O. Aoki ◽  
J. Fu ◽  
...  

2007 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 173-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex J.Y. Lee ◽  
Wei-Hsiu Lin

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of gender and somatotypes on single-leg upright standing postural stability in children. A total of 709 healthy children from different schools were recruited to measure the anthropometric somatotypes and the mean radius of center of pressure (COP) on a force platform with their eyes open and eyes closed. The results were that (a) girls revealed significantly smaller mean radius of COP distribution than boys, both in the eyes open and eyes closed conditions, and (b) the mesomorphic, muscular children had significantly smaller mean radius of COP distribution than the endomorphic, fatty children and the ectomorphic, linear children during the eyes closed condition. The explanation for gender differences might be due to the larger body weight in boys. The explanation for somatotype differences might be due to the significantly lower body height and higher portion of muscular profile in the mesomorphic children.


2003 ◽  
Vol 96 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1173-1184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hua-Fang Liao ◽  
Ai-Wen Hwang

To investigate the relations between the balance function and gross motor ability, we recruited 15 children with cerebral palsy from 5 to 12 years in age. Balance function was tested by the Smart Balance Master System and by clinical tests. The Motor Age test was used to test gross motor ability. Analysis showed that postural stability in eyes open, eyes closed, and swaying vision conditions (visual surrounding swaying with body sway), the duration of one leg standing, and the duration of maintaining a heel-to-toe position were significantly correlated with gross motor ability. Postural stability in the eyes-closed condition was the best predicting factor and could explain 64% of the variability of gross motor ability. Whether the training of postural stability in eyes-closed condition can improve the gross motor function needs further study.


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