Acceleration Registrography of Head Movement During Alternating Inclination of the Support Platform

Abstract

The righting reflex, essential for maintaining equilibrium, keeps the head and trunk in a state of balance with regard to gravity. Because patients suffering from vestibular disorders almost always complain of dizziness during everyday movements such as rising and walking, the righting reflex should be evaluated within the context of these dynamic states. A new method of acceleration registrography was designed to enable the testing of this reflex as the subject stands upon a moving platform. Participating in the study were 49 normal control subjects and 80 patients with peripheral vestibular disorders. The test we devised proved to be more successful in detecting labyrinthine righting reflex dysfunction in patients than the tests of righting reflex and deviation evaluations used thus far, such as Romberg's, Mann's and the stepping test, and to more accurately represent the disequilibrium and/or dizziness experienced by patients in everyday movements.

Key Words:

• righting reflex
• peripheral vestibular disorders
• everyday movements