Abstract
Posture adjustment in patients with spina bifida was investigated by means of the body center of pressure as an index of body sway in the upright posture. All the patients with the neurological levels of lesions at L3 to L5 were able to walk outdoor independently. Anterior-posterior sway in patients with braces and opened eyes corresponded to that in normal subjects with closed eyes. Their body sway was closely associated with the use of braces, however the control effect on body sway was not greater than the adjustment by visual sensation. Medial-lateral sway was somewhat smaller than that in the anterior-posterior direction. A less correlation between body sway and the use of braces was determined compared with anterior-posterior sway.
