Quantitative Posturography: Use in Multiple Sclerosis

Average displacement of anterior-posterior sway over a 10 s epoch in the quietly standing human was determined for both the eyes open and eyes closed conditions. Average difference of displacement between these two conditions was calculated. From the control measures (n = 139) normative values were defined for three age ranges. Sway characteristics of 113 patients with multiple sclerosis were also obtained. Each patient was also assigned a numerical score indicative of overall neurologic findings. In comparison to the control measures, few of the minimally impaired patients showed an abnormality in sway; however, all of the most severely impaired patients exhibited an abnormal displacement of sway with the eyes closed.