The Effect of Perturbration on Balance Control in Adults

Clalit Health Services

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Chronic Ankle Instability

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04174027

MeirMc102-19CTIL

Details and patient eligibility

About

Balance control in respond to an unexpected platform perturbration during standing and walking: comparison between individuals with chronic ankle instability and healthy individuals.

Full description

An unexpected postural perturbration is a major risk factor of falls and injuries during gait. A postural perturbration is a sudden change in conditions that displaces the body posture away from equilibrium. Reactive postural control response is an immediate ( 70-120 ms ) automatic "like reflex" response which is initiated by unexpected postural perturbration in order to maintain balance. Even among young healthy adults there could be a problem in balance performance which does not become evident untill a slip or a trip or any other sudden perturbration happens. Thus a simple test of pertubration while standing or walking can identify a problem .

This study is comparing the reactive postural control of physical education students who suffer from chronic ankle instability (CAI) to healthy students on a Perturbation Treadmill. The device consists of a treadmill mounted on a moving force plate platform. The platform moves in the medial/ lateral plains to simulate a slip and a trip in both the standing and walking phase. Their reactive postural control is tested in a few conditions: standing on both legs - eyes open and eyes closed, in tandem standing, standing on one leg and in walking. In each condition the perturbration is given every 5-15 seconds in different speed and in unexpected direction (right /left). Lost of balance control is any change in the original location of the foot in standing conditions or stepping out of the treadmill.

Enrollment: 100 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 50 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• age 18-50
• good health
• active people

Exclusion criteria

• Body weight greater than 135 kg
• Bone instability (non-consolidated fractures, unstable spinal column, severe osteoporosis)
• Head damage in the year prior to the study
• Diabetics or Unstable circulation
• Cardiac (blood) contraindications
• Vestibular problem
• Neurological deficits
• Mechanical ventilation problem
• Severe vascular disorders of the lower limbs