Tracing of Center of Gvavity during Center of Gravity Rotation: Comparison between Patients and Healthy Subjects

Abstract

The primary purposes of this study were to examine characterisitic difference in center of gravity between patients and controls and to explore possible physiological and kinematic roles of muscle, bone, and joint in controlling the center of gravity. Subjects stood on the stage of a stabilimeter with the head fixed, and the tracing of center gravity was recorded while the pelvis was rotated horizontally (Center of Gravity Rotation; CGR). Patients showed various elliptic tracings depending on their age, sex, clinical symptoms, and learning abilities, exhibiting differences in shape, size, and smoothness from controls. The present findings suggest that the, kinematic analysis of this tracing may provide valuable information on the condition of pelvis, hip, or lower extremities, and play a possible role in quantitative evaluation of physical plasticity, stability, and performance of patients. It is also suggested that to practice the CGR may be effective not only for the correction of the pelvis position but also for the improvement in equilibrium, and plasticity of spinal or limb joints. © 1995, The Society of Physical Therapy Science. All rights reserved.