Abstract
A clinical study of the patients with peripheral vestibular disorders and 25 normal subjects was conducted with the visual somatosensory body equilibrium test (EquiTest® system). This test system analyzes patients' responses to stimuli to various components of the body balance system. The two series of test conditions were calculated as follow.
(1) Sensory organization test :
The contributions of the three sensory inputs providing orientation information were evaluated : visual, vestibular, and somatosensory. The patients were forced to stand without visual or somatosensory information or with false stimuli.
(2) Movement corrdination test :
The patient's ability to make corrective movements to regain equilibrium was tested. The patients were exposed to brief backward and forward horizontal movements of the support surface, which was also tilted so the tose were up or down.
(1) The balance system and righting reflex in patients with peripheral vestibular lesions and in normal subjects were evaluated with the EquiTest®.
(2) Correct visual or somatosensory information was indispensable for patients with peripheral vestibular disorders to maintain stable standing. Somatosensory information was vitally important.
(3) The activity of the stretch reflexes in the lower limbs of the patients was not much affected when the eyes were open.
