The relevance of clinical balance assessment tools to differentiate balance deficits

Author: Mancini, M.; Horak, F.B.

Description: Control of balance is complex and involves maintaining postures, facilitating movement, and recovering equilibrium. Balance control consists of controlling the body center of mass over its limits of stability. Clinical balance assessment can help to assess fall risk and/or determine the underlying reasons for balance disorders. Most functional balance assessment scales assess fall risk and the need for balance rehabilitation but do not differentiate types of balance deficits. A system approach to clinical balance assessment can differentiate different kinds of balance disorders and a physiological approach can determine underlying sensorimotor mechanisms contributing to balance disorders. Objective measures of balance using computerized systems and wearable inertial sensors can bring more sensitive, specific and responsive balance testing to clinical practice.

Subject Headings: Accidental Falls; Aged; Humans; Motor Skills/physiology; Movement Disorders/complications/diagnosis; Postural Balance/physiology; Risk Assessment/methods; Sensation Disorders/complications/diagnosis

Publication year: 2010

Journal or book title: European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine

Volume: 46

Issue: 2

Pages: 239-248

Find the full text: https://www.strategian.com/fulltext/Mancini2010.pdf

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Type: Journal Article

Serial number: 2743