Postural Stability Romberg’s Test in 3D Using an Inertial Sensor in Healthy Adults

Abstract

Currently, inertial sensors are often used to study balance in an upright stance. There are various options for recording balance data with different locations and numbers of sensors used. Methods of data processing and presentation also differ significantly in published studies. We propose a certain technical implementation of the method and a previously tested method for processing primary data. In addition, the data were processed along three mutually perpendicular planes. The study was conducted on 109 healthy adults. A specially developed inertial sensor, commercially available for medical purposes, was used. Thus, this work can outline the limits of normative values for the calculated stabilometric measures. Normative data were obtained for three oscillation planes with the sensor located on the sacrum. The obtained parameters for the vertical component of the oscillations are of the same order as for the frontal and sagittal components. Normative parameters are required in any clinical study, as the basis from which we start in the evaluation of clinical data. In this study, such normative parameters are given for one of the most commonly used Romberg’s tests. The obtained normative data can be used for scientific and clinical research.