V. Koncek et al., ANALYSIS OF STABILITY OF HUMAN UPRIGHT POSTURE BASED UPON THE MEASUREMENT OF THE HEAD SWAY, Medical progress through technology, 19(1), 1993, pp. 55-60
The paper is dealing with the description of a simple and inexpensive
technique for recording and measuring of the head sway during upright
stance. In particular the recording system and the evaluation of the b
ody sway data are highlighted. The objectives of the head sway signal
analysis are the determination of sway components in the side-to-side
(lateral) direction and forward-backward (anteroposterior) direction.
It is anticipated that it will be possible to extract from the digitiz
ed data some information abouth the transfer characteristic and stabil
ity margin of the neuromuscular control system concerned with the main
tenance of equilibrium. Additional information of potential clinical s
ignificance could be obtained by correlating the measured sway data wi
th electromyographically determined changes in the activity of the mai
n postural muscles. The information obtained is comparable to that gat
hered by more sophisticated, and more expensive conventional devices.
A special feature is the easy portability of the system which permits
collection of stabilometric data even in remote locations, while the a
nalysis on which the diagnostic assessment is based can be performed a
t a later date in a central facility equipped with the necessary instr
umentation.