Ankylosing Spondylitis and Posture Control: The Role of Visual Input

Abstract

Objectives. To assess the motor control during quiet stance in patients with established ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and to evaluate the effect of visual input on the maintenance of a quiet posture. Methods. 12 male AS patients (mean age 50.1 ± 13.2 years) and 12 matched healthy subjects performed 2 sessions of 3 trials in quiet stance, with eyes open (EO) and with eyes closed (EC) on a baropodometric platform. The oscillation of the centre of feet pressure (CoP) was acquired. Indices of stability and balance control were assessed by the sway path (SP) of the CoP, the frequency bandwidth (FB1) that includes the 80% of the area under the amplitude spectrum, the mean amplitude of the peaks (MP) of the sway density curve (SDC), and the mean distance (MD) between 2 peaks of the SDC. Results. In severe AS patients, the MD between two peaks of the SDC and the SP of the center of feet pressure were significantly higher than controls during both EO and EC conditions. The MP was significantly reduced just on EC. Conclusions. Ankylosing spondylitis exerts negative effect on postural stability, not compensable by visual inputs. Our findings may be useful in the rehabilitative management of the increased risk of falling in AS.

Ankylosing Spondylitis and Balance

“…When the eyes were closed, the oscillations were wide and were low velocity in the anteroposterior direction for healthy subjects, and they were rapid and had high amplitude in the patients with AS. The researchers surmised that the patients with AS were more likely to rely on visual input for sustaining the balance and that there was increased worsening in balance compared to healthy subjects when their eyes were closed [26]. The authors suggested that this change, which occurred without pathology in the central nervous system or visual pathway, could indicate impaired motor control or problems in the feedback mechanisms from lower extremity muscles.…”

Static Postural Control Data Analysis in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis

“…There are studies that use the tandem walking test, step and quick turn test (22), the force platform (23), and Biodex balance This article has been accepted for publication and undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record. Please cite this article as: Karahan www.erciyesmedj.com system (24) to assess static and dynamic balance in AS patients (9). In this study, the tests were performed with eyes open and eyes closed to investigate the effects of visual input.…”

“…The most important clinical feature of the disease is the distorted posture of the spine (8). Patients with poor posture may have balance problems (9). The head and face tilt downward as a result of advanced thoracolumbar kyphosis (10).…”

“…With a healthy nervous and muscular system, an effective motor response is possible. Balance control is required in both static and dynamic situations (9). Balance problems may occur in AS patients as a result of severe joint deformities and poor posture (7).…”

Exercise in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis

“…Okrem pozitívnych metabolických vplyvov, dôležitú úlohu zohráva cvičenie aj pri zlepšení spinálnej mobility a svalovej sily. Udržanie správneho posturálneho držania javí kľúčovú úlohu u pacientov s ankylozujúcou spondylitídou (14)…”