[Clinical analysis of normal subjects and dizzy patients with postural sway test].
OBJECTIVE
To study the characteristics of the normal subjects with postural sway test and discuss the value of postural sway test in the diagnosis of dizzy patients.


METHODS
Totally 112 normal subjects, 72 patients with peripheral vertigo, and 30 patients with central vertigo were examined using a stabilometer (EAB-100, Anima Co., Japan). Items include patterns, length of locus, envelope area, deflection average center displacement, and romberg rate were recorded and compared.


RESULTS
The postural sway was classified into the following five patterns: centripetal, forward and backward, right and left, diffuse, and multicentric. Centripetal pattern was the most prominent figure pattern in the normal subjects, while diffuse pattern was the most prominent figure pattern in the patients with central vertigo. When the normal subjects closed their eyes, age was linearly correlated with the length of locus, envelope area, rectangel area, and unit area path length (P < 0.05). Sex was not correlated to all of these parameters. The length of locus and envelope area in the patient groups were significantly increased when compared with the normal subjects (P < 0.0167). Romberg rate was not significantly different between the patients and the normal subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
The pattern of postural sway is useful for the diagnosis of vertigo. Age is an important factor that affects the balance function. Sex seems has no influence. Visual input plays an important role in maintaining postural balance. Stabilometer is a useful tool for evaluating balance function, and postural sway test may be a valuable assistant examination.
Wen
Yan-hua
YH
Department of Otolaryngology, PUMC Hospital, CAMS and PUMC, Beijing 100730, China.
Jiang
Zi-Dong
ZD
Zhang
Yan
Y
Zhang
Lian-Shan
LS
Gao
Zhi-Qiang
ZQ
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004244:Dizziness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004856:Postural Balance