A quantitative study of stance in normal subjects

Recent interest in therapeutic measures purported to modify neurological function has encouraged the development of quantitative tests useful in objectively recording the neurological examination. A means of quantifying stance, one portion of the neurological examination, using a force platform and a measure called a steadiness score was investigated. Normative data are presented for normal young adults for several aspects of stance routinely tested in the standard neurological examination, including the evaluation of narrow stance, wide stance and one leg stance with and without support. Results indicate no differences in steadiness scores between male and female subjects or between dominant and nondominant sides in the one leg stances. Significant differences are found between eyes open and eyes closed trials, the subjects performing better with their eyes open for all of the stances tested. A comparison of the steadiness scores in the lateral and forward directions is presented. In addition, by utilizing the forward and lateral forces developed in maintaining balance, there is recorded a display that allows subjective comparison of the various trials and provides concurrent validity to the steadiness scores.