Analysis of Postural Control in Sitting by Pressure Mapping in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis, Spinal Cord Injury and Friedreich's Ataxia
Abstract Background: The tools available for the postural control assessment in patients with neurological diseases lack reliability and sensitivity to small changes in patient functionality. The appearance of pressure mapping has allowed quantitative evaluation of postural control in sitting. This study was carried out todetermine the evaluations in pressure mapping and verifying whether they are different between the three sample groups (multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury and Friedreich's ataxia), and to determine whether the pressure mapping is more sensitive than functional tests. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in a random sample of 10 adult patients with neurological involvement. The tests applied were: pressure mapping, seated Lateral Reach Test, seated Functional Reach Test, Berg Balance Scale, Posture and Postural Ability Scale, Function in Sitting Test, and Trunk Control Test.Results: The pressure mapping showed a higher mean pressure in the people with Friedreich's ataxia compared to other groups. The highest values of maximum pressure and the area of contact were found in users with spinal cord injury.Conclusions: People with different neurological pathologies and similar results in functional tests have very different results in the pressure mapping. The relation between the pressure mapping variables and the functional tests were numerous, especially in the multiple sclerosis group.