A Comparison of Balance Performance of the Sensory Organization Test to the Head Shake Sensory Organization Test in Healthy Adults

ObjectiveTo compare equilibrium scores between computerized dynamic posturography tests of the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) to the Head Shake-Sensory Organization Test (HS-SOT) in healthy adults.BackgroundApproximately 50% of the brain's pathways are related to vision and many of these pathways are susceptible to injury in concussion. Visual-motor disruptions occur in 65%–90% of concussed patients. These disruptions impair balance and can be measured. The SOT is a computerized postural test that evaluates balance by altering visual, proprioceptive, and vestibular cues. The HS-SOT modifies 2 of the standard SOT conditions by including dynamic head motions that stimulate the semicircular canals within the vestibular system.Design/MethodsParticipants completed the Dizziness Handicap Inventory, Activities of Balance Confidence Scale, SOT, and HS-SOT in one session.ResultsTwenty-five individuals (17 females, 8 males; mean age, 21.08 ± 4.10 years, range, 18–33 years) completed outcome measures and 3 trials of testing. There was a significant difference in mean values between the SOT and the HS-SOT for both condition 2 (t(16) = 3.034, p = 0.008) and 5 (t(16) = 5.706, p < 0.001). Additionally, there was a significant difference in mean values between the SOT and the foam HS-SOT for condition 2 (t(16) = 4.673, p < 0.001) and condition 5 (t(16) = 7.263, p < 0.001). There was not a significant difference in means between the foam and without foam for HS-SOT for condition 2 (t(16) = 1.77, p = 0.095) and condition 5 (t(16) = 1.825, p = 0.087).ConclusionsThe HS-SOT may quantify subtle balance deficits and enhance the clinical standard use of the SOT. Unlike the SOT where the head is static, the HS-SOT requires head movements, as if saying no repeatedly at approximately 100°/second as measured by an accelerometer. The HS-SOT may quantify subtle balance deficits and enhance the clinical standard use of the SOT.

A Brief Study of Binaural Beat: A Means of Brain-Computer Interfacing

The human brain tends to follow a rhythm. Sound has a significant impact on our physical and mental health. This sound technology uses binaural beat by generating two tones of marginally different frequencies in each individual ear to facilitate the improved focus of attention, emotion, calming, and sensory organization. Binaural beat helps in memory boosting, relaxation, and work performance. Again because of hearing a binaural beat sound, brainwave stimuli can be diagnosed to pick up a person’s sensitive information. Using this technology in brain-computer interfacing, it is possible to establish a communication between the brain and the computer. Thus, it enables us to go beyond our potential. The aim of this study is to assess the impact and explore the potential contribution of binaural beat to enhancement of human brain performance.

Normative Data for the NeuroCom® Sensory Organization Test in Subjects Aged 80–89 Years

Aging is known to increase the risk of falling. In older people, whose share in the total population is rising sharply, the Sensory Organization Test (SOT, Equitest NeuroCom) is a useful tool during rehabilitation and in clinical research for assessing postural stability, risk of falling, and balance improvement. Normative data for the SOT in the healthy population older than 79 years have not been previously published. We recruited 53 recreationally active healthy subjects aged 80 years and older from the general population in a cross-sectional study. We presented the normative data for SOT for the 80–84 and 85–89 years groups. Our results showed that the “vestibular” balance control tended to be affected by aging more than the vision and proprioception-based systems. A striking reduction in performance after the age of 85 years was observed. These findings will be useful for clinical and research purposes.

CHARACTERISTICS OF EQUILIBRIUM FUNCTION AND THE SENSORY ORGANIZATION OF POSTURAL BALANCE IN WOMEN 85-95 YEARS OLD

Цель работы - установить возрастные особенности показателей эффективности функции равновесия и сенсорной организации постурального баланса у женщин 85-95 лет. Были обследованы 68 женщин 85-95 лет (средний возраст - 89,3±3 года), которых разделили на две возрастные группы: 1-я - 37 женщин 85-89 лет (средний возраст - 86,9±1,6 года); 2-я - 31 женщина 90-95 лет (средний возраст - 92,1±1,4 года). Для оценки компонентов постурального баланса использовали компьютерный динамический постурографический (стабилометрический) комплекс «Smart Equitest Balance Manager». Проводили Sensory Organization Test (SOT). Сравнительная оценка показателей Equilibrium Score во всех функциональных пробах SOT, включая показатель Com posite of all Equilibrium Scores, не выявила статистически значимых различий между группами обследованных женщин. Сенсорный анализ также не выявил возрастных изменений соматосенсорной, зрительной и вестибулярной информации в контроле над балансом. При этом показатель сенсорного предпочтения (Ratio for Sensory Analysis-Patient Preference) был выше у женщин 90-95 лет (p=0,007). У женщин после 89 лет не наблюдали возрастных изменений сенсорной организации постурального контроля, эффективности подержания статического и статодинамического баланса, включая снижение общей производительности баланса, а также адаптационных возможностей их функции равновесия. При этом у женщин-долгожителей сохраняется эффективность процесса сенсорной интеграции для поддержания постурального баланса и чувства пространственной ориентации, что можно рассматривать как предиктор активного долголетия. Кроме этого, у женщин-долгожителей сохраняется способность пространственной и временной организации контроля постурального равновесия, а также степени и порядка набора задействованных мышц для снижения дисбаланса. Полученные результаты позволили обозначить параметры SOT, которые можно учитывать при прогнозировании постуральных изменений и продолжительности жизни у женщин в старческом возрасте. The purpose of this work is to establish the age-related indicators’ characteristics of the effectiveness of the balance function and the postural balance sensory organization in women 85-95 years old. We examined 68 women aged 85-95 years [mean age (M±SD) 89,3±3 years]. The first age group included 37 women whose calendar age ranged from 85 to 89 years (mean age 86,9±1,6 years). The second age group included 31 women of 90-95 years (mean age: 92,1±1,4). To assess the components of the postural balance, a computer-based dynamic posturographic complex «Smart Equitest Balance Manager» was used. The Sensory Organization Test (SOT) was performed. Comparative assessment of the Equilibrium Score indicators in all SOT functional tests, including the Composite of all equilibrium scores, did not reveal statistically significant differences between the examined groups of women. The sensory analysis did not reveal age-related changes in somatosensory, visual and vestibular information in the control over balance, either. At the same time, the indicator of sensory preference (Ratio for sensory analysis-patient Preference) was higher in women 90-95 years old (p=0,007). In women after 89 years of age, there are no age-related changes in the sensory organization of postural control or the effectiveness of maintaining static and static-dynamic balance. No decrease in overall balance performance, as well as the adaptive capabilities of their balance function, was noticed. At the same time, long-lived women retain the effectiveness of the sensory integration process to maintain postural balance and a sense of spatial orientation, which can be considered a predictor of active longevity. In addition, centenarians retain the ability of spatial and temporal organization of postural equilibrium control, as well as the degree and order of the muscles involved to reduce the imbalance recruitment. The results obtained made it possible to designate SOT parameters that can be taken into account when predicting postural changes and life expectancy in women in old age.

Sensory Organization Test Conditions Influence Postural Strategy Rather than Footwear or Workload

Background: Postural strategies such as ankle, hip, or combined ankle-hip strategies are used to maintain optimal postural stability, which can be influenced by the footwear type and physiological workload. Purpose: This paper reports previously unreported postural strategy scores during the six conditions of the sensory organization test (SOT). Methods: Fourteen healthy males (age: 23.6 ± 1.2 years; height: 181 ± 5.3 cm; mass: 89.2 ± 14.6 kg) were tested for postural strategy adopted during SOT in three types of occupational footwear (steel-toed work boot, tactical work boot, low-top work shoe) every 30 min during a 4-h simulated occupational workload. Postural strategy scores were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance at 0.05 alpha level. Results: Significant differences among postural strategy scores were only evident between SOT conditions, and but not between footwear type or the workload. Conclusions: Findings indicate that occupational footwear and occupational workload did not cause a significant change in reliance on postural strategies. The significant changes in postural strategy scores were due to the availability of accurate and/or conflicting sensory feedback during SOT conditions. In SOT conditions where all three types of sensory feedback was available, the ankle strategy was predominantly adopted, while more reliance on hip strategy occurred in conditions with absent or conflicting sensory feedback.

Effects of Textured Insoles on the Balance of Individuals with Knee Osteoarthritis in Dynamic Perturbations

The effectiveness of adding plantar-surface texture to improve balance has been demonstrated in a variety of demographics. It is critical to investigate whether textured insoles can improve balance in people with knee osteoarthritis (OA), who have compromised the somatosensory function of the affected joint and, as a result, are at a higher risk of falling. Thus, this study investigated the degree of benefit from the use of textured insoles for improving balance and compared the balance of people with knee OA to healthy matched peers. This study included eighteen people with knee OA and eighteen healthy, aged, gender, height, weight, and BMI matched controls who were assessed on balance using the sensory organization test and the motor control test. Balance was improved in both groups when the textured insoles were worn, and the healthy knee group demonstrated significantly better balance performance than the knee OA group. The benefits of this study for individuals with knee OA are that it may lead to the development of an evidence-based footwear intervention that is noninvasive, simple to use, and inexpensive, in addition to allowing the user to self-manage and the ability to reduce the risk of falls, thereby improving their quality of life.

Exploratory fall risk and preventive intervention in acute vestibular neuritis

Objective To analyze recovery from dizziness in patients with acute vestibular neuritis (AVN) after applying the “Dizziness & Fall Risk Assessment and Intervention (DFRAI)”. Methods This prospective study involved patients with AVN who underwent a survey of dizziness and fall risk. The patients received medical treatment and customized vestibular rehabilitation, and vestibular function was evaluated at the initial attack and 3 months later. Results Forty-one patients underwent subjective questionnaire assessments, which showed significant improvement in visual analog scale-dizziness handicap inventory-fear of falling (VAS-DHI-FOF) results from the initial vertigo attack to 3 months later. In the sensory organization test (SOT), the initial composite score was 63 ± 13.1, which improved to 77.5 ± 4.9 3 months later. In caloric testing, the canal paresis (CP) score was 42.9 ± 35.2, which improved to 29.9 ± 23.5 3 months later. Conclusions Subjective improvement in dizziness and objective recovery of vestibular function were confirmed. DFRAI is a comprehensive solution for dizziness, and appropriate application of the DFRAI is expected to have a positive effect on recovery from dizziness and fall prevention in patients with AVN.

Relation of Physical Activity Level to Postural Balance in Obese and Overweight Spanish Adult Males: A Cross-Sectional Study

The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of physical activity level on postural control in obese and overweight Spanish adult males. Forty-three males aged between 25 and 60 years old were included. Anthropometric, body composition, and physical activity variables were assessed, and postural control was evaluated using the Sensory Organization Test. No correlation was found between the level of physical activity and postural control, assessed by the Sensory Organization Test within the whole sample. However, within the group with a higher total fat mass percentage, non-sedentary individuals presented improved scores on the somatosensory organization test when compared to sedentary individuals (96.9 ± 1.8 vs. 95.4 ± 1.2; p < 0.05) and poorer scores on the composite equilibrium score (73.4 ± 7.2 vs. 79.2 ± 6.9; p < 0.05). The altered integration of somatosensory inputs most likely affects the tuning, sequencing, and execution of balance strategies in sedentary men with a high total fat mass percentage.

Effect of Smartphone Use on Static and Dynamic Postural Balance in Healthy Young Adults

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible effects of smartphone usage in the biomechanical balance system. Method Twenty-five healthy young adults (10 men, 15 women) between the ages of 18 and 25 years without balance problems were included in the study. Sensory organization, adaptation, rhythmic weight shift, and functional limitation tests (unilateral stance, sit to stand, walk across, tandem walk, step quick turn, step up down, forward lunge) have been applied. Results Significant results were obtained in parameters of sensory organization, tandem walk, walk across, and unilateral stance tests ( p < .05). Conclusion The effects of using smartphones on postural control and balance in different circumstances, such as standing and walking, must be comprehensively determined to prevent accident.