DYNAMIC AND RANDOMIZED PERTURBED POSTUROGRAPHY IN THE FOLLOW-UP OF PATIENTS WITH POLYNEUROPATHY

Background: The purpose of the study was to investigate and follow the equilibrium performance of patients with chronic polyneuropathy using Dynamic Posturography (DP) and Randomized Perturbed Posturography (RP P). Methods: Fourteen patients with chronic polyneuropathy, aged 53-83 years, were evaluated by clinical investigation, vibrametry, DP and R PP in a six-year follow-up. The patient group was compared to 14 healt hy volunteers, aged 63-80 years. The DP comprises a sensory organizati on (SO) part in which the platform and visual surround are stable or r eferenced to the patient sway, with eyes open or closed, In a movement coordination (MC) part, the platform makes active movements. In RPP, the platform moves randomly in the anteroposterior direction. Results: Comparison between the first and second study of the patient group sh owed decreased equilibrium scores under stable conditions and when vis ion was excluded. Compared with controls, the patients showed signific antly lower scores in most of the SO test conditions except when the p latform was sway referenced with stable surround; in the MC part, the patients showed prolonged muscular response latencies, and in the RPP, the patients showed increased sway areas. Conclusions: The results ar e further evidence that proprioception is probably the single most imp ortant sensory input for postural control in humans. Posturography pro ved to be an objective method to study and follow the equilibrium perf ormance in patients with PN.