[Static posturography versus clinical tests in elderly people with vestibular pathology].
OBJECTIVE
Balance can be quantified by clinical tests and through instrumental studies. The objective of this paper is to determine the correlation between static posturography and 4 clinical tests of balance in elderly people with vestibular disorders and to identify its capability to discriminate the groups studied.


METHODS
60 patients with vestibular disorders and 60 healthy subjects performed 4 clinical tests (one leg standing with opened eyes, Timed Up and Go, Tinetti and Berg tests) and a static posturography analysis (NedSVE/IBV system) under 4 conditions: Romberg Test, Eyes Open (REO), Romberg Test, Eyes Closed (REC), Romberg Test on Foam with Eyes Open (RFEO), and Romberg Test on Foam with Eyes Closed (RFEC).


RESULTS
RFEO correlated best with the clinical tests and RFEC was the worst. RFEO distinguished between healthy individuals and decompensated patients.


CONCLUSIONS
RFEO gave the best information about postural balance in the elderly. RFEC was not useful. Static posturography can be useful to distinguish vestibular compensation status.
Ortuño-Cortés
Miguel A
MA
Unidad de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Casa de Salud, Valencia, España. maortuno@hotmail.com
Martín-Sanz
Eduardo
E
Barona-de Guzmán
Rafael
R
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003939:Diagnostic Techniques, Otological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*