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Postural Stability Test
The Postural Stability test assesses a patient’s ability to maintain a center of balance. It
measures how much the patient’s position deviates from center and reports the average
deviation as the stability index. Therefore, a low score is more desirable than a high score.
Consider the following example:
If a patient is in an off-center position on the platform, the stability index has a large value.
However, if the patient swayed very little, the standard deviation is low. This is evident when
viewing the tracing, if it enabled. A patient could have a score of 6.5, yet the standard deviation
could be only 0.8. The tracing displays the patient did not sway very much. However, if the
patient swayed a lot, the standard deviation is higher. Thus, the standard deviation is indicative
of sway.
Figure 6.5.
Postural Stability Test.
During each trial, patients must hold their position to keep the cursor in the center. After each
trial, the screen displays a ten-second countdown to enforce rest before the next trial.
1.
Touch <Test Options>.
2.
Touch <
▲
> or <
▼
> to select a time, ranging from 0.25 to 5 seconds.
3.
Set the resistance level of the platform: Static or 1 through 12.
4.
Touch <Collect Data> to begin the next trial.