Posturography is a non-invasive medical test that measures a patient’s balance and motor control using specialized platforms with sensors. It can be ordered by medical specialists to diagnose or monitor a patient’s progress, and can be helpful in managing cases and treating other patients with the same condition.
Posturography is the clinical study of a patient’s ability to remain upright. It involves the use of non-invasive medical tests to quantitatively measure a patient’s balance and motor control. Various devices are used for posturography assessments, including specialized platforms with sensors to provide feedback during testing. Physical therapists, neurologists, and other medical specialists may order this test as part of a diagnostic evaluation or to monitor a patient’s ongoing progress.
In a posturography test, the patient puts on a safety harness in case of a fall and is placed on a platform. The most basic test is to ask the patient to stand up and hold the position for as long as possible. Sensors in the platform provide information on how the patient’s weight is distributed and will update when the patient loses balance and weight shifts or destabilizes. Other tests may involve tilting or moving the platform to see how well a patient adjusts to changing conditions.
Many medical issues can cause balance problems. Neurological problems in the central or peripheral nervous system can impair the patient’s motor control. The vestibular system for balance can be impaired, making it difficult for patients to know where they are in relation to other objects and the environment. Muscle weakness can make standing more difficult, or patients may have tremors and other neurological problems that impair the ability to balance and stand safely.
The posturography test is supervised by a technician and usually takes about 20 minutes. It shouldn’t be painful, and patients don’t need to undertake any special procedures to prepare for it. The test may be ordered in conjunction with brain scans, muscle conduction tests, and other medical tests to evaluate the patient’s overall health. All of this information can be gathered for diagnostic purposes to narrow down a diagnosis for the patient and develop an appropriate treatment plan.
Patients under treatment can also undergo periodic posturography tests. This can be done to see how well a patient is responding to treatment and to determine if a treatment regimen needs to be changed. It can also be used to follow up patients with degenerative diseases to monitor progress. Individual patient studies can be helpful in managing a case and also provide valuable information that can be useful in treating other patients with the same condition, if patients agree to the release of results of posturography and other medical tests.
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