Postural control deficits due to bilateral pyramidal tract lesions exemplified by hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) originate from increased feedback time delay and reduced long-term error corrections.

Pyramidal tract lesions determine the clinical syndrome of Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP). The clinical impairments of HSP are typically exemplified by their deficits in mobility, leading to falls and injuries. The first aim of this study was to identify the cause for postural abnormalities caused by pyramidal tract lesions in HSP.

A new approach to characterize postural deficits in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and to analyze postural adaptions after an exercise intervention.

Background: Postural instability presents a common and disabling consequence of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). However, knowledge about postural behavior of CIPN patients is sparse. With this pilot study, we used a new approach to i) characterize postural impairments as compared to healthy subjects, ii) allocate possible abnormalities to a set of parameters describing sensorimotor function, and iii) evaluate the effects of a balance-based exercise intervention.

Abnormal trunk control determines postural abnormalities in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Background: Postural instability in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) occurs at an early stage of the disease and often results in falls. As ALS is considered a multisystem neurodegenerative disorder, postural instability may result from motor, sensory and central processing deficits.

Objective And Methods: We analysed postural control of 12 ALS patients and 12 healthy age-matched control subjects.

Altered postural timing and abnormally low use of proprioception in lumbar spinal stenosis pre- and post- surgical decompression.

Background: Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is frequently associated with postural instability. Although several studies evaluated patients' functional impairments, underlying sensorimotor mechanisms are still poorly understood. We aimed to assess the specific set of postural control deficits associated with LSS during spontaneous and externally perturbed stance and evaluated post-surgical changes in postural behavior.

Postural instability in adult ADHD - A pilot study.

Background: Apart from inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity, ADHD in childhood presents with an impairment of motor coordination and balance functions. Until now, literature is scarce about sensorimotor deficits in adult ADHD. This is a pilot study that identifies and quantifies the role of sensory, motor, and central adaptation mechanisms for adult ADHD patients' sensorimotor deficits in a systematic way, using postural control.

Virtual Balancing for Studying and Training Postural Control.

Postural control during free stance has been frequently interpreted in terms of balancing an inverted pendulum. This even holds, if subjects do not balance their own, but an external body weight. We introduce here a virtual balancing apparatus, which produces torque in the ankle joint as a function of ankle angle resembling the gravity and inertial effects of free standing.

Balance Training Enhances Vestibular Function and Reduces Overactive Proprioceptive Feedback in Elderly.

Postural control in elderly people is impaired by degradations of sensory, motor, and higher-level adaptive mechanisms. Here, we characterize the effects of a progressive balance training program on these postural control impairments using a brain network model based on system identification techniques. We analyzed postural control of 35 healthy elderly subjects and compared findings to data from 35 healthy young volunteers.

Elderly Use Proprioception Rather than Visual and Vestibular Cues for Postural Motor Control.

Multiple factors have been proposed to contribute to the deficits of postural control in the elderly. They were summarized as sensory, motor, and higher-level adaptation deficits. Using a model-based approach, we aimed to identify which of these deficits mainly determine age-related changes in postural control.