Article ID: 11245
Purpose: To examine the relationship of subjective visual vertical (SVV) with static postural balance and gait asymmetry in patients with lateral medullary infarction.
Method: Nine participants with body lateropulsion (BL) due to lateral medullary infarction were enrolled. The relationships of SVV with three stabilometric parameters (length of center of pressure, envelopment area, and weight-bearing asymmetry during standing) and gait asymmetry were investigated.
Results: The mean (SD) SVV was found to be 7.4° (9.5°). SVV values significantly correlated with weight-bearing asymmetry in the eye-closed condition (r = 0.75, P < 0.05), whereas they did not significantly correlate with weight-bearing asymmetry in the eye-open condition. In addition, the absolute values of SVV significantly correlated with gait asymmetry (r = –0.78, P < 0.05).
Conclusion: In patients with lateral medullary infarction with BL, SVV was related to static postural balance in the eye-closed condition and gait asymmetry. Further investigation is needed to examine the causality between SVV and these measures.
