Impact of textured surfaces on the orthostatic balance of patients with multiple sclerosis.

To perform posturographic measurements with eyes open or closed using floor coverings with different textured surfaces to study postural control in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Static posturographic recordings were performed with eyes open and eyes closed on a forceplate with no covering (control condition) or covered by a textured mat with small pimples (height 2 mm) or large pimples (height 7 mm). Several posturographic variables were measured, focusing on displacements of the center of pressure (CoP) including the average velocity (V Forty-six MS patients (mean EDSS score: 3.6) completed the study. Several posturographic variables, including V Static posturographic measurements made with different textured surfaces and visual conditions can be considered as a sensitive tool to measure "proprioceptive reserves". Actually, when cerebellar, brainstem, or visual functions are impaired, the resources of the sensory (proprioceptive) system, if preserved, can be recruited at a higher level and compensate for dysfunctions of other postural controls to maintain a satisfactory balance. In addition, this procedure of static posturographic examination can provide objective measurements correlated with clinical testing of balance and gait and could usefully complement EDSS scoring to assess disability affecting postural control and the risk of falling in MS patients.

Informations de copyright

Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Conflict of interest The authors report no declarations of competing interest.