title: Ankylosing spondylitis and posture control: the role of visual input.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the motor control during quiet stance in patients with established ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and to evaluate the effect of visual input on the maintenance of a quiet posture.
  
  
  METHODS
  12 male AS patients (mean age 50.1 ± 13.2 years) and 12 matched healthy subjects performed 2 sessions of 3 trials in quiet stance, with eyes open (EO) and with eyes closed (EC) on a baropodometric platform. The oscillation of the centre of feet pressure (CoP) was acquired. Indices of stability and balance control were assessed by the sway path (SP) of the CoP, the frequency bandwidth (FB1) that includes the 80% of the area under the amplitude spectrum, the mean amplitude of the peaks (MP) of the sway density curve (SDC), and the mean distance (MD) between 2 peaks of the SDC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In severe AS patients, the MD between two peaks of the SDC and the SP of the center of feet pressure were significantly higher than controls during both EO and EC conditions. The MP was significantly reduced just on EC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ankylosing spondylitis exerts negative effect on postural stability, not compensable by visual inputs. Our findings may be useful in the rehabilitative management of the increased risk of falling in AS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Research and Knowledge Management, Otto Bock HealthCare GmbH, 37115 Duderstadt, Germany ; Rheumatology and Rehabilitation ResearchUnit, "Salvatore Maugeri" Foundation I.R.C.C.S., Scientific Institute of Telese Terme, Via Bagni Vecchi 1, 82037 Telese Terme, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro Marco
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: De Nunzio
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology and Rehabilitation ResearchUnit, "Salvatore Maugeri" Foundation I.R.C.C.S., Scientific Institute of Telese Terme, Via Bagni Vecchi 1, 82037 Telese Terme, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iervolino
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology and Rehabilitation ResearchUnit, "Salvatore Maugeri" Foundation I.R.C.C.S., Scientific Institute of Telese Terme, Via Bagni Vecchi 1, 82037 Telese Terme, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zincarelli
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology and Rehabilitation ResearchUnit, "Salvatore Maugeri" Foundation I.R.C.C.S., Scientific Institute of Telese Terme, Via Bagni Vecchi 1, 82037 Telese Terme, Italy.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Gioia
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, "Salvatore Maugeri" Foundation I.R.C.C.S., Scientific Institute of Telese Terme, Via Bagni Vecchi 1, 82037 Telese Terme, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rengo
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Research Unit, "Salvatore Maugeri" Foundation I.R.C.C.S., Scientific Institute of Cassano delle Murge, Via Mercadante 2, 70020 Cassano delle Murge, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Multari
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University Federico II, Via Sergio Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peluso
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University Federico II, Via Sergio Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo Nicola Dario
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Di Minno
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology and Rehabilitation ResearchUnit, "Salvatore Maugeri" Foundation I.R.C.C.S., Scientific Institute of Telese Terme, Via Bagni Vecchi 1, 82037 Telese Terme, Italy ; Rehabilitation Research Unit, "Salvatore Maugeri" Foundation I.R.C.C.S., Scientific Institute of Cassano delle Murge, Via Mercadante 2, 70020 Cassano delle Murge, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pappone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D004856:Postural Balance; D011187:Posture; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014796:Visual Perception
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