title: Normative Data for the NeuroCom Sensory Organization Test in US Military Special Operations Forces.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postural stability is the ability to control the center of mass in relation to a person's base of support and can be affected by both musculoskeletal injury and traumatic brain injury. The NeuroCom Sensory Organization Test (SOT) can be used to objectively quantify impairments to postural stability. The ability of postural stability to predict injury and be used as an acute injury-evaluation tool makes it essential to the screening and rehabilitation process. To our knowledge, no published normative data for the SOT from a healthy, highly active population are available for use as a reference for clinical decision making.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To present a normative database of SOT scores from a US Military Special Operations population that can be used for future comparison.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human performance research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 542 active military operators from Naval Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen (n = 149), Naval Special Warfare Command, Sea, Air, and Land (n = 101), US Army Special Operations Command (n = 171), and Air Force Special Operations Command (n = 121).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants performed each of the 6 SOT conditions 3 times. Scores for each condition, total equilibrium composite score, and ratio scores for the somatosensory, visual, and vestibular systems were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Differences were present across all groups for SOT conditions 1 (P < .001), 2 (P = .001), 4 (P > .001), 5 (P > .001), and 6 (P = .001) and total equilibrium composite (P = .000), visual (P > .001), vestibular (P = .002), and preference (P > .001) NeuroCom scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Statistical differences were evident in the distribution of postural stability across US Special Operations Forces personnel. This normative database for postural stability, as assessed by the NeuroCom SOT, can provide context when clinicians assess a Special Operations Forces population or any other groups that maintain a high level of conditioning and training.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, PA.
authors.forename: Erin R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Pletcher
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, PA.
authors.forename: Valerie J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: University of Kentucky, Lexington.
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Abt
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Human Performance Research Laboratory, Stennis Space Center, MS.
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Human Performance Research Laboratory, Virginia Beach.
authors.forename: Jeffrey J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Parr
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Warrior Human Performance Research Laboratory, Hurlburt Field, FL.
authors.forename: Meleesa F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Wohleber
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, PA.
authors.forename: Mita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lovalekar
authors.affiliation: Michael W. Krzyzewski Human Performance Laboratory (K-Lab), Duke University, Durham, NC.
authors.forename: Timothy C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Sell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D004856:Postural Balance; D012016:Reference Values
keywords: NeuroCom; Sensory Organization Test; normative data