Biomaterial Database

Head movement restriction and postural stability in patients with compensated unilateral vestibular loss. 1998

M Karlberg, and M Magnusson

Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital of Lund, Sweden.

OBJECTIVE To study whether restriction of head-neck movements improves postural performance in patients with compensated unilateral total vestibular loss. METHODS Randomized controlled experimental study. METHODS Laboratory for clinical and experimental vestibular testing at a tertiary referral center. METHODS Fifteen consecutive patients (seven men, eight women, mean age 53 years) at routine follow-up, 6 months after translabyrinthine extirpation of acoustic neurinomas (mean tumor size 13.5mm, range 5 to 25mm). None of the patients had signs or symptoms of central nervous system dysfunction. METHODS Posturographic tests comparing patients with and without a semirigid neck collar. Test order was randomized between patients to reduce training effects. METHODS Posturography measuring velocity and variance of quiet stance and measuring body sway induced by vibration at 60, 80, and 100Hz to the calf muscles. Tests were conducted with eyes open and closed. RESULTS In tests with vibration at 100Hz to the calf muscles and with eyes open, body sway velocity was significantly higher when patients were wearing a neck collar. No significant difference was found in any other test. CONCLUSIONS Restricting head-neck movements with a neck collar does not improve postural stability in patients with compensated unilateral total vestibular loss. A tendency toward impaired postural performance leads to the conclusion that it is not appropriate to treat such patients with neck collars to improve their balance.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007103	Immobilization	The restriction of the MOVEMENT of whole or part of the body by physical means (RESTRAINT, PHYSICAL) or chemically by ANALGESIA, or the use of TRANQUILIZING AGENTS or NEUROMUSCULAR NONDEPOLARIZING AGENTS. It includes experimental protocols used to evaluate the physiologic effects of immobility.	Hypokinesia, Experimental,Experimental Hypokinesia,Experimental Hypokinesias,Hypokinesias, Experimental
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009068	Movement	The act, process, or result of passing from one place or position to another. It differs from LOCOMOTION in that locomotion is restricted to the passing of the whole body from one place to another, while movement encompasses both locomotion but also a change of the position of the whole body or any of its parts. Movement may be used with reference to humans, vertebrate and invertebrate animals, and microorganisms. Differentiate also from MOTOR ACTIVITY, movement associated with behavior.	Movements
D009333	Neck	The part of a human or animal body connecting the HEAD to the rest of the body.	Necks
D009464	Neuroma, Acoustic	A benign SCHWANNOMA of the eighth cranial nerve (VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR NERVE), mostly arising from the vestibular branch (VESTIBULAR NERVE) during the fifth or sixth decade of life. Clinical manifestations include HEARING LOSS; HEADACHE; VERTIGO; TINNITUS; and FACIAL PAIN. Bilateral acoustic neuromas are associated with NEUROFIBROMATOSIS 2. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p673)	Acoustic Neuroma,Melanocytic Vestibular Schwannoma,Schwannoma, Acoustic,Schwannoma, Vestibular,Acoustic Neuroma, Cerebellopontine Angle,Acoustic Tumor,Angle Tumor,Cerebellopontine Angle Acoustic Neuroma,Cerebellopontine Angle Tumor,Neurilemmoma, Acoustic,Neurilemoma, Acoustic,Neurinoma of the Acoustic Nerve,Neurinoma, Acoustic,Neuroma, Acoustic, Unilateral,Vestibular Schwannoma,Acoustic Neurilemmoma,Acoustic Neurilemmomas,Acoustic Neurilemoma,Acoustic Neurilemomas,Acoustic Neurinoma,Acoustic Neurinomas,Acoustic Neuromas,Acoustic Schwannoma,Acoustic Schwannomas,Acoustic Tumors,Angle Tumor, Cerebellopontine,Angle Tumors,Angle Tumors, Cerebellopontine,Cerebellopontine Angle Tumors,Melanocytic Vestibular Schwannomas,Neurilemmomas, Acoustic,Neurilemomas, Acoustic,Neurinomas, Acoustic,Neuromas, Acoustic,Schwannoma, Melanocytic Vestibular,Schwannomas, Acoustic,Schwannomas, Melanocytic Vestibular,Schwannomas, Vestibular,Tumor, Acoustic,Tumor, Angle,Tumor, Cerebellopontine Angle,Tumors, Acoustic,Tumors, Angle,Tumors, Cerebellopontine Angle,Vestibular Schwannoma, Melanocytic,Vestibular Schwannomas,Vestibular Schwannomas, Melanocytic
D011184	Postoperative Period	The period following a surgical operation.	Period, Postoperative,Periods, Postoperative,Postoperative Periods
D011187	Posture	The position or physical attitude of the body.	Postures
D011446	Prospective Studies	Observation of a population for a sufficient number of persons over a sufficient number of years to generate incidence or mortality rates subsequent to the selection of the study group.	Prospective Study,Studies, Prospective,Study, Prospective
D005260	Female		Females