Article

Stability during standing is achieved by a complex coordination
process between various human systems. The stability of normal subjects and
patients with various neuromuscular disorders has been evaluated by common
methods based on force plate data analysis for one minute. However, most of the
people frequently stand for a prolonged period during daily activities.
This study aimed to evaluate the stability of subjects during a
longer period of time. Moreover, the new method was introduced to analyze the
stability of subjects with musculoskeletal disorders. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental.
METHODS: Four groups of normal adults and children, individuals with spinal cord
injury (SCI) and Perthes disease were recruited in this study. Stability of the
subjects was evaluated by using parameters collected from centre of pressure
(COP) sways obtained while subjects standing on force plate for one and then five
minutes based on the old and new methods. Two sample t-test was used to compare
the stability of the subjects by the commonly used method. The number of stable
to unstable frames was selected for final analysis based on the new method.
RESULTS: Based on the traditional method, the SCI and Perthes patients were more
stable than normal subjects (p < 0.05). Moreover, children were more unstable in
the anteroposterior plane than adults. However, based on the new method, SCI and
patients with Perthes disease were more unstable than normal adults. Moreover, in
mediolateral direction the results of stability analysis with the new method
differed from that of the traditional method. CONCLUSION: The new method of
stability analysis seems to be more sensitive and accurate than that of the
traditional commonly used method. Based on the new method, stability is the
ability of a subject to return from an unstable position to a stable one and to
remain in a stable one for a certain period of time. Clinical relevance The
results of this research can be used by most clinicians to evaluate the stability
of subjects with various musculoskeletal disorders.

Langue : ANGLAIS