Influence of visual and surface conditions on standing postural control of patients with post-stroke hemiplegia

Abstract

[Purpose] To investigate the influences of visual and supporting surface conditions on standing postural control of patients with post-stroke hemiplegia by measuring postural sway, and to examine associations between these influences and somatosensory disturbance, clinical standing balance and gait ability. [Methods] Postural sway while standing was measured by posturography under four standing conditions (visual conditions: eyes open or eyes closed; surface conditions: firm floor or foam rubber) for 30 seconds each. In addition, we examined associations between standardized clinical measures of standing balance and gait ability, and quantified somatosensory disturbances (touch, vibration) and postural sway. [Results] Sway of the center-of-pressure (path length and root mean square of velocity) significantly increased under the eyes-closed and foam rubber conditions. Path length correlated significantly with standing balance and gait ability score, and superficial sensory disturbance of the affected side under almost all conditions. [Conclusion] Patients with hemiplegia show a reduced ability to select or compensate for appropriate sensory information according to changes in various conditions. © 2014 by the Society of Physical Therapy Science.