Effects of head motion on postural stability in healthy young adults with chronic motion sensitivity.
Abdulaziz A Albalwi, Eric G Johnson, Ahmad A Alharbi and 4 others
PMID 32257386WHAT IT FOUND
Young adults with chronic motion sensitivity did not show worse balance than controls while moving their heads horizontally or vertically.
Both groups were less stable during head motion than standing still.
Key findings
01The study did not find a group-by-condition difference in postural stability.
02Static equilibrium scores were 93.8 in the chronic motion sensitivity group and 94.9 in controls.
03On a 0 to 100 equilibrium score where higher is better, head motion lowered stability: static 94.4, horizontal 92.4, vertical 91.9; horizontal and vertical did not differ.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The participants were only 20 to 40 years old, so the findings may not apply to older adults. Vestibular function was not tested, so subtle vestibular problems cannot be ruled out. Physical activity was self-reported without a validated questionnaire, and inactivity can affect balance. The chronic motion sensitivity group was older than the control group (27.9 vs 25.6 years), although age was controlled in the analysis. Chronic motion sensitivity was defined by self-report and questionnaire percentile cutoffs, not by vestibular testing or a standard diagnostic threshold. The study measured balance in a laboratory force-plate task with a laser and metronome, not during real walking or dual-task activities.
Declared interests
Loma Linda University and Tabuk University funded the study. The supplied text gives no commercial sponsor and no author conflict-of-interest disclosure.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that chronic motion sensitivity causes poor balance or that head-motion balance testing can identify it. The study did not find a significant group-by-condition difference, and vestibular function was not tested.