A. Karlsson et al., Amplitude and frequency analysis of force plate data in sitting children with and without MMC, CLIN BIOMEC, 15(7), 2000, pp. 541-545
Objective. To investigate if force plate measurements can be used to detect
postural sway differences in sitting children with and without myelomening
ocele (spina bifida).
Background. The postural sway has not been investigated in children with my
elomeninnocele previously. Since many of these children are not able to sta
nd independently, force plate measurements during sitting could be one way
to detect differences in their postural sway compared to normal children. H
owever, there is very little published regarding assessment of seated postu
ral sway.
Methods. Force plate measurements on 15 six years old children with myelome
ningocele and 20 age-matched normal children were analysed. The standard de
viation and the median frequency of the horizontal ground reaction force we
re used to characterise the body sway.
Results, The standard deviation of the force was larger only for some of th
e children with myelomeningocele as compared to the control group. The medi
an frequency was significantly lower in the myelomeningocele group as compa
red to the control group. Visual input and seat base inclination did not in
fluence the postural sway significantly.
Conclusions. The results show that frequency analysis can be used to detect
fundamental differences in postural sway that can not be observed visually
. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.