title: Is posturography able to identify fallers in patients with Parkinson's disease?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Parkinson' disease (PD) is one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases, and more than half of patients with PD experience falls. Research for clinically useful risk factors predicting falls has yielded inconsistent findings so far. Hence the aim of the study is to validate two different posturography techniques and one modified-timed up and go test (TUG) in discriminating fallers and non-fallers among PD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  32 patients diagnosed with idiopathic PD were assessed with: Dizziness handicap inventory, Activities-specific balance confidence scale, modified-TUG, sensorial organization test (SOT) and limits of stability (LOS) of computer dynamic posturography, results of free-field body sway analysis with Vertiguard device and number of falls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fallers had longer time to perform modified-TUG and required more steps. On average, fallers performed SOT and LOS significantly worse and Vertiguard device indicated a higher risk of falling. Based on the area under the curve of receiver operating characteristics analyses, the overall accuracy of directional control of LOS and steps in modified-TUG are close to 0.9 (high accuracy). Also assessment with Vertiguard device is more efficient in identifying fallers than the parameters of SOT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that LOS, mobile posturography (Vertiguard), vestibular input of SOT and number of steps taken in modified-TUG are very useful to identify fallers in PD patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital Lucus Augusti, Spain. Electronic address: Marcos_Rossi@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rossi-Izquierdo
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology at UKB, Hospital of the University of Berlin, Charité Medical School, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Basta
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital Lucus Augusti, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan Pedro
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Rubio-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Sofía
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Santos-Pérez
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology at UKB, Hospital of the University of Berlin, Charité Medical School, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Ángel
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Sesar-Ignacio
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Lucus Augusti, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alberte-Woodward
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Lucus Augusti, Spain.
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guijarro-Del Amo
authors.affiliation: Methodological and Statistical Department, Fundación Ramón Domínguez, University Hospital Lucus Augusti, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Estany-Gestal
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital Lucus Augusti, Spain.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: San Román-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faraldo-García
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital Lucus Augusti, Spain.
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zubizarreta-Gutiérrez
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soto-Varela
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D003943:Diagnostic Techniques, Neurological / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards*; D004244:Dizziness / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004856:Postural Balance; D012372:ROC Curve; D012307:Risk Factors; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics
keywords: Balance assessment; Falls; Parkinson disease; Posturography; Timed up and go