Standing Balance in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Comparative Study with Healthy Subjects

Abstract

Standing balance was studied with use of a force platform (AMTI) in 67 subjects with classical/definite rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 152 healthy subjects, 67 of whom formed a group matched for sex and age. Compared with healthy subjects, RA subjects showed significantly (p<0.01) greater postural sway, reflected by increased area and length of sway path, differences being greatest in those tests representing a relatively high level of difficulty, involving standing on one leg, looking straight ahead.

Key Words:

• standing balance
• postural control
• stabilometry
• rheumatoid arthritis
• healthy controls