title: Influence of sensory loss on the perception of verticality in stroke patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between somatosensory loss and perception of verticality in stroke patients suffering single-hemisphere lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Somatosensory loss was measured using the Rivermead Assessment for Somatosensory Performance (RASP). Perception of verticality was assessed with the Subjective Visual Vertical (SVV) and the Subjective Postural Vertical (SPV) tests. Absolute Values of SVV and SPV were used to analyze the amount of deviation in relation to somatosensory loss.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-two patients were included in the study (mean age = 45.91 SD = 31.88 years). Analysis showed that somatosensory loss was related to results of the SVV (r = -0.552, p = 0.001, Pearson Rank) and the SPV (r = -0.661, p < 0.001, Spearman Ï). Furthermore, results showed that both joint-related (SVV: r = -0.411, p = 0.019, Pearson Rank; SPV: r = -0.597, p = 0.001, Spearman Ï) and skin-related (SVV: r = -0.595, p < 0.001, Pearson Rank; SPV: r = -0.663, p < 0.001, Spearman Ï) somatosensory information is related to verticality perception.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides evidence that perception of verticality is related to somatosensory loss, which means that somatosensory loss will lead to a larger amount of deviation of SVV and SPV in relation to the gravitational vector. Furthermore, it is interesting to note that both SVV and SPV are influenced by somatosensory loss.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • Somatosensory information is related to both visual and postural aspects of verticality perception. • Both joint- and cutaneous-related modalities of sensory information are related to perception of verticality. • Sensory training could be important in the recovery of verticality perception.
authors.affiliation: Artesis University College of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. wim.saeys@ua.ac.be
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Saeys
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vereeck
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Truijen
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lafosse
authors.forename: Floris P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Wuyts
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van de Heyning
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010468:Perceptual Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D020886:Somatosensory Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013028:Space Perception; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*