Normative Data for Static and Dynamic Posturography (NeuroCom EQUITEST and BALANCE MASTER) in Subjects Older Than 79yrs

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Ageing is known to increase the risk of fall and posturographic stabilometry, both static and dynamic, are useful tools to assess postural stability. To our knowledge, no published normative data for a healthy elderly population are available.

Detailed Description
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The risk of fall rise with ageing and is huge after 85yrs becoming one of the major problems associated with aging. The computed dynamic posturographic EquiTest® System and Smart BalanceMaster by NeuroCom® International, Inc, Clackamas, OR, USA) provide a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the balance function through the description of the subject's center of gravity (COG) sway. Sensory Organization Test and Sensory Analysis norms are provided for age groups (20-59; 60-69; 70-79) up to 79yrs, whilst they lack in the international literature for subjects 80+yrs, nonetheless being necessary in the understanding of balance performance from a quantitative point of view. Subjects 80+yrs are evaluated with EquiTest® System and Smart BalanceMaster to provide mean values and normative data. In order to assess the reliability of the instrumental evaluation was repeated (T1) two weeks later (±2 days).

Official Title
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Normative Data for Static and Dynamic Posturography (NeuroCom EQUITEST and BALANCE MASTER) in Subjects Older Than 79yrs

Conditions
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Equilibrium; Disorder, Labyrinth, Aging

Intervention / Treatment
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* Diagnostic Test: instrumental description of the subject's center of gravity (COG) sway


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Age older than 79 years Free gait, without aids, for at least 50 mt Cognitive skills allowing the providing of valid informed consent and the understanding of the instructions during clinical and instrumental evaluations Exclusion Criteria: Pathologies affecting Central Nervous System (i.e., cerebrovascular, neurodegenerative, Alzheimer Disease, Parkinson disease, etc) or vestibulum Previous traumatic brain injury and/or coma lasting more than 24 hrs and occurred within last 20 years Impairment affecting the Peripheral Nervous System i.e., pallesthesia <4/8 Hip or knee joint replacement within the last 10 years Surgeries or pathologies affecting the lower limbs or the spine Pain, acute or chronic Use, within the last 12 hours, of painkillers or drugs interfering with Central Nervous System or balance

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 80 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Balance evaluation<br>patient's balance is evaluated with instrumental posturography | Diagnostic Test: instrumental description of the subject's center of gravity (COG) sway<br>* qualitative and quantitative analysis of the balance function through the description of the center of gravity (COG) sway<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Normative Data for Sensory Organization Test with EquiTest® System in subjects aged 80yrs and over | Center of gravity sway during posture is evaluated through computed dynamic posturographic EquiTest® System. | instrumental evaluation is performed at enrollment; | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Normative Data for Motor Control Test and Adaptation Test with EquiTest® System in subjects aged 80yrs and over | Motor responses during perturbations posture are evaluated through computed dynamic posturographic EquiTest® . | instrumental evaluation is performed at enrollment | 
| Normative Data for dynamic tests with Smart BalanceMaster® System in subjects aged 80yrs and over | Center of gravity sway during posture is evaluated through computed dynamic posturographic Smart BalanceMaster® System. | instrumental evaluation is performed at enrollment | 
| Reliability of the measures (measures stability) | To verify that the instrument yields the same results over multiple trials a second evaluation is performed a second time | Instrumental evaluation is repeated two weeks after enrollment | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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normative data, postural balance, posturography, EquiTest®, Sensory Organization Test, aging