scholarly journals Evaluation of the Limits of Stability (LOS) Balance Test

2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grzegorz Juras ◽  
Kajetan Słomka ◽  
Artur Fredyk ◽  
Grzegorz Sobota ◽  
Bogdan Bacik

Evaluation of the Limits of Stability (LOS) Balance TestThe main objective of this study was the estimation of intrasession reliability of the limits of stability (LOS) test conducted on a force platform as an alternative measurement to standard posturography in quiet standing. Fifteen healthy adults took part in the experiment. The standardized measurement protocol of the LOS test was proposed. It consists of three phases - 1stphase - 10s of quiet standing, 2ndphase - the maximal forward leaning in a self paced manner, and 3rdphase - maintenance of maximal forward leaning position. The analysis of variance Friedman's ANOVA and Repeated Measures ANOVA/MANOVA was used to diagnose the differences between 10 consecutive trials of the LOS test. In order to establish reliability of the test, the intraclass correlation (ICC) procedure was used. We presented different ways of maximal center of pressure (COP) excursion estimates. The results of this study show no significant differences between the chosen parameters of the LOS test. Moreover, the measurement of the range of COP excursion, which is most commonly analyzed in such tests, showed to be quite reliable with ICC2,1above .85. LOS test conducted along the standard procedure should be considered as a very useful method in clinical and research conditions. Still the specific parameters of the LOS test should be given more thorough insight, but it is a very good alternative to quiet standing posturography.

Author(s):  
Elżbieta Piątek ◽  
Michał Kuczyński ◽  
Bożena Ostrowska

Due to balance deficits that accompany adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), the potential interaction between activities of daily living and active self-correction movements (ASC) on postural control deserves particular attention. Our purpose was to assess the effects of ASC movements with or without a secondary mental task on postural control in twenty-five girls with AIS. It is a quasi-experimental within-subject design with repeated measures ANOVA. They were measured in four 20-s quiet standing trials on a force plate: no task, ASC, Stroop test, and both. Based on the center-of-pressure (COP) recordings, the COP parameters were computed. The ASC alone had no effect on any of the postural sway measures. Stroop test alone decreased COP speed and increased COP entropy. Performing the ASC movements and Stroop test together increased the COP speed and decreased COP entropy as compared to the baseline data. In conclusion, our results indicate that AIS did not interfere with postural control. The effects of the Stroop test accounted for good capacity of subjects with AIS to take advantage of distracting attentional resources from the posture. However, performing both tasks together exhibited some deficits in postural control, which may suggest the need for therapeutic consultation while engaging in more demanding activities.


2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 442-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zohreh Meshkati ◽  
Mehdi Namazizadeh ◽  
Mahyar Salavati ◽  
Masood Mazaheri

Context:Although reliability is a population-specific property, few studies have investigated the measurement error associated with force-platform parameters in athletic populations.Objective:To investigate the skill-related differences between athletes and nonathletes in reliability of center-of-pressure (COP) summary measures under eyes-open (EO) and eyes-closed (EC) conditions.Design:Test–retest reliability study.Setting:COP was recorded during double-leg quiet standing on a Kistler force platform before and after a fatiguing treadmill exercise, with EO and EC.Participants:31 male participants including 15 athletes practiced in karate and 16 nonathletes.Main Outcome Measures:Standard deviation (SD) of amplitude, phase-plane portrait, SD of velocity, mean total velocity, and area were calculated from 30-s COP data. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement, and coefficient of variation (CV) were used as estimates of reliability and precision.Results:Higher ICCs were found for COP measures in the athlete (compared with the nonathlete) group, postfatigued (compared with prefatigued) condition, and EC (compared with EO) tests. CVs smaller than 15% were obtained for most of the COP measures. SD of velocity in the anteroposterior direction showed the highest reliability in most conditions.Conclusions:Tests with EC and to a lesser extent tests performed in the athlete group and in the postfatigued condition showed better reliability.


2012 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 306-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik A. Wikstrom

Context:Interactive gaming systems have the potential to help rehabilitate patients with musculoskeletal conditions. The Nintendo Wii Balance Board, which is part of the Wii Fit game, could be an effective tool to monitor progress during rehabilitation because the board and game can provide objective measures of balance. However, the validity and reliability of Wii Fit balance scores remain unknown.Objective:To determine the concurrent validity of balance scores produced by the Wii Fit game and the intrasession and intersession reliability of Wii Fit balance scores.Design:Descriptive laboratory study.Setting:Sports medicine research laboratory.Patients or Other Participants:Forty-five recreationally active participants (age  =  27.0 ± 9.8 years, height  =  170.9 ± 9.2 cm, mass  =  72.4 ± 11.8 kg) with a heterogeneous history of lower extremity injury.Intervention(s):Participants completed a single-limb–stance task on a force plate and the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) during the first test session. Twelve Wii Fit balance activities were completed during 2 test sessions separated by 1 week.Main Outcome Measure(s):Postural sway in the anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) directions and the AP, ML, and resultant center-of-pressure (COP) excursions were calculated from the single-limb stance. The normalized reach distance was recorded for the anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions of the SEBT. Wii Fit balance scores that the game software generated also were recorded.Results:All 96 of the calculated correlation coefficients among Wii Fit activity outcomes and established balance outcomes were interpreted as poor (r < 0.50). Intrasession reliability for Wii Fit balance activity scores ranged from good (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]  =  0.80) to poor (ICC  =  0.39), with 8 activities having poor intrasession reliability. Similarly, 11 of the 12 Wii Fit balance activity scores demonstrated poor intersession reliability, with scores ranging from fair (ICC  =  0.74) to poor (ICC  =  0.29).Conclusions:Wii Fit balance activity scores had poor concurrent validity relative to COP outcomes and SEBT reach distances. In addition, the included Wii Fit balance activity scores generally had poor intrasession and intersession reliability.


2004 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren C. Olmsted ◽  
Jay Hertel

Context:The effects of custom-molded foot orthotics on neuromuscular processes are not clearly understood.Objective:To examine these effects on postural control in subjects with different foot types.Design:Between-groups, repeated-measures design.Setting:Athletic training laboratory.Subjects:30 healthy subjects assigned to groups by foot type: planus (n = 11), rectus (n = 12), or cavus (n = 7).Interventions:Custom-fit semirigid orthotics.Main Outcome Measures:Static postural control was measured on a force plate. Dynamic postural control was measured using the Star Excursion Balance Test. Both measurements were assessed with and without orthotics at baseline and 2 weeks later.Results:For static postural control, a significant condition-by-group interaction was found. Subjects with cavus feet had a decreased center-of-pressure velocity while wearing orthotics. For dynamic postural control, a significant condition-by-direction-by-group interaction was found. Subjects with cavus feet had increased reach distances in 3 of 8 directions while wearing orthotics.Conclusions:Custom orthotics were associated with some improvements in static and dynamic postural control in subjects with cavus feet.


2012 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 327-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott K. Lynn ◽  
Ricardo A. Padilla ◽  
Kavin K.W. Tsang

Context:Proper functioning of the intrinsic foot musculature (IFM) is essential in maintaining the integrity of the medial longitudinal arch (MLA). Improper functioning of the IFM leads to excessive pronation of the foot, which has been linked to various pathologies. Therefore, training the IFM to avoid excessive pronation may help prevent some of these pathologies; however, it is not clear how to train these muscles optimally.Objective:To investigate the effects of 2 different types of IFM training on the height of the MLA and static- and dynamic-balance task performance.Design:Randomized controlled trial, repeated-measures mixed-model design.Setting:University biomechanics laboratory for testing and a home-based training program.Participants:24 healthy, university-age volunteers (3 groups of 8) with no history of major lower limb pathology or balance impairment.Interventions:One experimental group performed 4 wk of the short-foot exercise (SFE) and the other performed 4 wk of the towel-curl exercise (TCE). Participants were asked to perform 100 repetitions of their exercise per day.Main Outcome Measures:Navicular height during weight bearing, the total range of movement of the center of pressure (COP) in the mediolateral (ML) direction for a static-balance test and a dynamic-balance test.Results:There were no differences in the navicular height or static-balance tests. For the dynamic-balance test, all groups decreased the ML COP movement on the dominant limb by a small amount (~5 mm); however, the SFE group was able to decrease COP movement much more than the TCE group in the nondominant limb.Conclusions:The SFE appeared to train the IFM more effectively than the TCE; however, there were differing results between the dominant and nondominant legs. These imbalances need to be taken into consideration by clinicians.


2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (10) ◽  
pp. 1489-1498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte M. Hunt ◽  
Gail Widener ◽  
Diane D. Allen

Background People with multiple sclerosis (MS) have diminished postural control, and center of pressure (COP) displacement varies more in this population than in healthy controls. Balance-based torso-weighting (BBTW) can improve clinical balance and mobility in people with MS, and exploration using both linear and nonlinear measures of COP may help determine whether BBTW optimizes movement variability. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of BBTW on people with MS and healthy controls during quiet standing. Design This was a quasi-experimental study comparing COP variability between groups, between eye closure conditions, and between weighting conditions in the anterior-posterior and medial-lateral directions. Methods Twenty participants with MS and 18 healthy controls stood on a forceplate in 4 conditions: eyes open and closed and with and without BBTW. Linear measures of COP displacement included range and root mean square (RMS). Nonlinear measures included approximate entropy (ApEn) and Lyapunov exponent (LyE). Three-way repeated-measures analyses of variance compared measures across groups and conditions. The association between weighting response and baseline nonlinear variables was examined. When significant associations were found, MS subgroups were created and compared. Results The MS and control groups had significantly different range, RMS, and ApEn values. The eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions had significantly different range and RMS values. Change with weighting correlated with LyE (r=−.70) and ApEn (r=−.59). Two MS subgroups, with low and high baseline LyE values, responded to BBTW in opposite directions, with a significant main effect for weighting condition for the LyE variable in the medial-lateral direction. Limitations The small samples and no identification of impairments related to LyE at baseline were limitations of the study. Conclusions The LyE may help differentiate subgroups who respond differently to BBTW. In both subgroups, LyE values moved toward the average of healthy controls, suggesting that BBTW may help optimize movement variability in people with MS.


2012 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoon Tae Kim ◽  
Jung Soo Lee

Background: Each plantar pressure measurement system has a different accuracy and reliability, which is required to establish a range of normal values and determine the reliability. Objectives: To determine normal pressures with the Gaitview® system and assess its reliability. Study Design: Single-group repeated measures. Methods: Dynamic barefoot plantar pressure data were obtained in 30 healthy young participants. In each session, three trials were recorded by one examiner for each foot using the two-step gait initiation method, which was repeated by another examiner the same day. One week later, all of the procedures were repeated. Time-integral mean pressures were measured for each of eight anatomical foot regions. The foot contact time (CT) and the time-integral mean angle of the center of pressure (COP) were also measured. Results: The greatest time-integral mean pressures were seen under the medial and lateral heel. The mean CT was 0.9 sec for both feet, and the time-integral mean angle of the COP was 9.3° for the right foot and 6.6° for the left. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) ranged from 0.69 to 0.97, and the coefficient of variation (CoV) from 9.9 to 59.97% for all parameters. Conclusions: These findings indicate that the Gaitview® system demonstrates good to moderate reliability. Clinical relevance The Gaitview® AFA-50 system (alFOOTs, Seoul, Republic of Korea) has been used by clinicians in Korea, but has not been investigated in an independent study. Therefore, this study established a range of normal values and determined the reliability of the Gaitview® AFA-50 system.


Author(s):  
Anna Brachman ◽  
Wojciech Marszałek ◽  
Anna Kamieniarz ◽  
Justyna Michalska ◽  
Michał Pawłowski ◽  
...  

Our aim was to observe, through objective testing using an assessment module incorporated in a new exergaming system, whether elderly people’s static and functional balance is improved by a balance exergaming training program based on movements performed in everyday life. Thirteen healthy elderly women participated in 12 sessions of balance-based exergaming training (three times a week, 30 min per session). All objective outcomes, the quiet standing test, functional balance test (FBT), and limit of stability (LOS) test, were measured on three occasions: before intervention, after six training sessions, and after the completion of the four-week program. The results showed a significant improvement in LOS performance after the intervention. In FBT, participants exhibited a significant decrease (p < 0.01; Kendall’s W = 0.5) in the average time to target hit after six trainings. The average center of pressure velocity increased after six and 12 sessions, however did not reach significance (p = 0.053); nevertheless the size of the effect was large (ηp2 = 0.22). The parameters of the quiet standing test were not significantly affected by the training. The results support the need for more definite and objective studies assessing exergaming for balance in elderly.


PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e6999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roxana R. Onofrei ◽  
Elena Amaricai ◽  
Radu Petroman ◽  
Oana Suciu

Background The Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) is commonly used to assess dynamic postural balance both in clinical practice and research. The aim of our study was to assess the within-session relative and absolute reliability of participants’ performance of the modified SEBT (mSEBT) using a single practice trial in healthy elite athletes who were familiar with the test. Methods An intra-session repeated-measures design was used to investigate the relative and absolute reliability of participants’ (healthy athletes partaking in sports at a high-risk of ankle sprain injury) performance of the mSEBT. A total of 122 healthy elite athletes from soccer (n = 73), basketball (n = 15), and volleyball (n = 34) performed one practice trial and three test trials within one session, in three directions (anterior, postero-medial, and postero-lateral), for both legs. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and smallest detectable change at a 95% confidence were calculated. Results We found a good to excellent relative within-session intra-rater reliability between the three trials on specified directions, with an ICC (3,1) from 0.90 to 0.95. SEM and SDC95 for normalized and composite scores, for both legs ranged from 0.91 to 2.86, and 2.54 to 7.94, respectively. Conclusions In conclusion, we report good to excellent within-session reliability for the mSEBT. Our results confirm that the test can be reliably used with only one practice trial in healthy elite athletes familiar with the test.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. e0257212
Author(s):  
Kentaro Horiuchi ◽  
Kuniyasu Imanaka ◽  
Masami Ishihara

Postural control in quiet standing is often explained by a reflexive response to optical flow, the apparent motion of environmental objects in a visual scene. However, moving room experiments show that even small-amplitude body sway can evoke odd sensations or motion sickness, indicating that a consciousness factor may also be involved. Studies targeting perception of self-motion, vection, typically use rapid visual stimuli moving in a single direction to maintain a constant feeling of vection, and there are few studies of vection using low-speed sinusoidal visual stimuli similar to human pendular movement. In the present study we searched for changes in postural control during periods of vection during quiet standing. Participants (N = 19, age = 20.4 ±1.1 years) were shown dynamic visual stimuli in the form of sinusoidally expanding and contracting random dots, and the stimuli speed and visual field were manipulated. Posture was continually evaluated using Center of Pressure (CoP) measurements. Participants were also asked to report feelings of vection, both by pressing a button during the trial and through an overall rating at the end of each trial. Using repeated-measures ANOVA, we assessed changes in the CoP and vection variables between experimental conditions, as well as possible interactions between the variables. The results show that postural reaction and vection were both affected by the visual stimuli and varied with speed. The peripheral visual field was found to couple to stronger feeling of vection and better quality of postural control. However, no significant relationship between postural control and vection, nor evidence of vection interaction to the relationship between optical flow and postural control, was found. Based on our results we conclude that for postural stability during quiet standing, visual cues dominate over any potential consciousness factor arising due to vection.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document