Spinal Cord Research Help
AboutCategoriesLatest ResearchContact
Subscribe
Spinal Cord Research Help

Making Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Research Accessible to Everyone. Simplified summaries of the latest research, designed for patients, caregivers and anybody who's interested.

Quick Links

  • Home
  • About
  • Categories
  • Latest Research
  • Disclaimer

Contact

  • Contact Us
© 2025 Spinal Cord Research Help

All rights reserved.

  1. Home
  2. Research
  3. Aging
  4. Clinical Static Balance Assessment: A Narrative Review of Traditional and IMU-Based Posturography in Older Adults and Individuals with Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

Clinical Static Balance Assessment: A Narrative Review of Traditional and IMU-Based Posturography in Older Adults and Individuals with Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

Sensors, 2023 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/s23218881 · Published: November 1, 2023

AgingNeurologyRehabilitation

Simple Explanation

Maintaining balance is important for daily activities and quality of life. Impaired balance can be identified, understood, and improved through accurate assessment methods. This review explores methods to quantify standing balance, including traditional posturography and wearable inertial measurement units (IMUs). The review focuses on older adults and individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI), as these groups are largely affected by balance impairments. Each group presents distinct aspects in balance assessment due to different underlying causes. Given the vulnerability of both groups to balance issues and falls, interventions to improve standing balance and prevent falls are crucial. This review highlights the importance of static balance assessment and the potential of new methods to understand postural control.

Study Duration
Not specified
Participants
Older adults and individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury
Evidence Level
Narrative Review

Key Findings

  • 1
    COM motion indicates challenges in maintaining balance and the success of neural responses. COP provides information about the CNS response to COM imbalance, reflecting neuromuscular attempts to respond to instability.
  • 2
    IMUs offer a practical, objective balance assessment methodology for clinical applications. They show high sensitivity to mild neurological impairments and good test-retest reliability with experimental and clinical validity.
  • 3
    The review of balance assessment methods in older adults and individuals with iSCI highlights the value of utilizing both in-lab equipment and IMUs for improved understanding and more effective interventions.

Research Summary

This review explores static balance assessment methods, focusing on traditional posturography and IMU-based techniques in older adults and individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI). The study emphasizes the importance of accurate balance assessment for identifying impairments, understanding underlying mechanisms, and developing targeted interventions to improve standing balance and prevent falls. The review highlights the potential of emerging methods and technologies, particularly wearable IMUs, to enhance our understanding of postural control in different populations and improve clinical practice.

Practical Implications

Clinical Practice

IMUs can be integrated into clinical evaluations, particularly where access to in-laboratory equipment is limited, to provide objective balance assessments.

Rehabilitation Strategies

Understanding the specific balance deficits in older adults and individuals with iSCI can help tailor personalized interventions to reduce fall risk and improve functional outcomes.

Future Research

Further studies are needed to standardize IMU protocols, validate IMU accuracy, and conduct longitudinal studies to track balance changes over time.

Study Limitations

  • 1
    Lack of standardization in protocols and metrics across studies.
  • 2
    Need for more validation studies comparing IMU-based measures with gold-standard measures.
  • 3
    Limited longitudinal studies tracking balance changes over time.

Your Feedback

Was this summary helpful?

Back to Aging