title: Balance Rehabilitation Unit (BRU™) posturography in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate balance control with Balance Rehabilitation Unit (BRU™) posturography in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross controlled study was performed including 39 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients with scores less than or equal to 4 in the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), and a homogeneous control group consisting of 65 healthy individuals, matched by the age and gender. The experimental group was distributed according to the EDSS scale scores in 0-2.5 and 3-4. To assess the vestibular system function, the patients underwent a neurotological evaluation, including posturography of the Balance Rehabilitation Unit (BRU™).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant differences were observed when comparing the values of the sway velocity and the ellipse area of the MS 0-2.5 group with the control and the MS 3-4 group with the control. A statistically significant difference was verified between the MS 0-2.5 and the MS 3-4 groups in the condition 3 ellipse area values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The evaluation of the balance control with posturography of Balance Rehabilitation Unit (BRU™) enables the identification of abnormalities of the sway velocity and confidential ellipse in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil. natalia_kessler@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Natália
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kessler
authors.forename: Maurício Malavasi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ganança
authors.forename: Cristina Freitas
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Ganança
authors.forename: Fernando Freitas
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Ganança
authors.forename: Sabrina Chiogna
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Ana Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: Heloisa Helena
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Caovilla
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004244:Dizziness / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests / Q000379:methods*