title: Static and dynamic balance performance in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) have postural changes and increased risk of falling. The aim of this study is to compare balance characteristics between patients with OVCF and healthy control subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with severe OVCF and control subjects underwent computerised dynamic posturography (CDP) in this case-control study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-seven OVCF patients and 45 controls were recruited. Compared with the control group, the OVCF group had significantly decreased average stability; maximal stability under the `eye open with swayed support surface' (CDP subtest 4) and 'eye closed with swayed support surface' conditions (subtest 5); and decreased ankle strategy during subtests 4 and 5 and under the `swayed vision with swayed support surface' condition (subtest 6). The OVCF group fell more frequently during subtests 5 and 6 and had longer overall reaction time and longer reaction time when moving backward during the directional control test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OVCF patients had poorer static and dynamic balance performance compared with normal control. They had decreased postural stability and ankle strategy with increased fall frequency on a swayed surface; they also had longer reaction times overall and in the backward direction. Therefore, we suggest balance rehabilitation for patients with OVCF to prevent fall.
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors: Ling-Yi
authors: LY
authors: Wang
authors: Mei-Yun
authors: MY
authors: Liaw
authors: Yu-Chi
authors: YC
authors: Huang
authors: Yiu-Chung
authors: YC
authors: Lau
authors: Chau-Peng
authors: CP
authors: Leong
authors: Ya-Ping
authors: YP
authors: Pong
authors: Chia-Lin
authors: CL
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D050815:Fractures, Compression / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004856:Postural Balance; D011930:Reaction Time; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation