Learning effect of dynamic postural stability evaluation system

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Repeated exposure to a given perturbation of the postural control system has been shown to cause learning of more efficient postural strategies for maintaining balance both within a session and over time. It is important to show whether outcomes from treatment strategies are related to the effectiveness of training or are the result of the learning of the test process.

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the learning effect of the dynamic postural stability evaluation system.

METHODS:

We studied 20 healthy young subjects (13 females and 7 males), with a mean age of 22.3 $\pm$ 1.9 years. Limits of stability and postural sway were assessed. All participants completed the standardized dynamic postural stability evaluation test (Bertec, Bertec Corporation, Columbus, OH, USA) seven times. The test was performed in both eyes open and eyes closed conditions.

RESULTS:

There were differences in the limits of stability scores for backward ( $p=$ 0.042), left side ( $p=$ 0.05), and the total score ( $p=$ 0.04). There were significant differences in postural sway anteroposterior direction in perturbed surface with eyes closed condition ( $p=$ 0.004) and total limits of stability scores of perturbed surface with eyes closed condition ( $p=$ 0.046).

CONCLUSIONS:

The study showed that balance test scores stabilized at different sessions from 1 ${}^{\text{st}}$ to 3 ${}^{\text{rd}}$ assessment period. Maximum normalized scores were reached at the third trial.