title: Characterisation of balance capacity in Prader-Willi patients.
abstract: Being severely overweight is a distinctive clinical feature of Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). This explorative study aims to characterise balance capacity in PWS as compared to non-genetically obese patients (O) and to a group of normal-weight individuals (CG). We enrolled 14 PWS patients: 8 females and 6 males (BMI = 41.3 ± 7.3 kg/m(2), age = 32.86+4.42 years), 44 obese individuals, 22 males and 22 females (BMI = 40.6 ± 4.6 kg/m(2), age = 34.2 ± 10.7 years) and 20 controls (CG: 10 females and 10 males; BMI: 21.6 ± 1.6 kg/m(2); age: 30.5 ± 5.3 years). Postural acquisitions were conducted by means of a force platform from which the COP pattern vs time was analysed. The participants were required to stand barefoot on the platform with eyes open and heels at standardized distance and position for 60s. All of the analysed parameters were statistically different from O and CG groups. PWS individuals showed greater displacements in both the A/P and M/L direction (RMS, RANGE and MV indices). Analysis of the overall planar movement of the CoP showed that the PWS patients were characterised by higher RMS distance from the centre (RMS(CoP) index) and area of confidence ellipse (AREA(CoP) index) when compared both to obese and healthy individuals. PWS patients showed a poorer balance capacity than their non-genetically obese counterparts and healthy individuals, with greater differences in both the A/P and M/L direction than O. Rehabilitation programs for PWS should take this finding into account. In addition to weight loss, strengthening of ankle flexors/extensors, and balance training, tailored interventions aimed at improving A/P control should be given particular consideration.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Unit and Clinical Lab for Gait Analysis and Posture, Ospedale San Giuseppe, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Via Cadorna 90, I-28824 Piancavallo, VB, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Capodaglio
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Menegoni
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vismara
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cimolin
authors.forename: Graziano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grugni
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011218:Prader-Willi Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology