Balance function and sensory integration after mild traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the disparities in balance functions and sensory integration in patients with mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs) and healthy controls.


PARTICIPANTS
One hundred and seven patients with mTBI and 107 age- and sex-matched controls were recruaited for this study.


PRIMARY MEASURES
Symptoms of dizziness, balance functions and the ability to perform daily activities were assessed using the dizziness handicap inventory (DHI). This study also performed the postural-stability test and a modified clinical test of sensory integration by using the Biodex Stability System (BBS).


RESULTS
DHI scores (functional, emotional, physical and total self-reported scores) were substantially increased in patients following an mTBI compared with the scores of the controls (p < 0.000). The postural-stability test indices (anterior-posterior) (p = 0.045) and the sensory-integration test index (eyes-open-firm-surface index) (p = 0.006) were substantially lower in patients with mTBI than in the controls. However, indices of two other postural-stability test indices (overall and medial-lateral) and three other sensory-integration tests indices (eyes-closed-firm-surface, eyes-open-foam-surface and eyes-closed-foam-surface) measured for the mTBI group did not differ from those of the control group.


CONCLUSION
Activities of daily living, balance in postural stability and sensory integration were strongly impaired in patients with mTBI.
['Lin|Li-Fong|LF|', 'Liou|Tsan-Hon|TH|', 'Hu|Chaur-Jong|CJ|', 'Ma|Hon-Ping|HP|', 'Ou|Ju-Chi|JC|', 'Chiang|Yung-Hsiao|YH|', 'Chiu|Wen-Ta|WT|', 'Tsai|Shin-Han|SH|', 'Chu|Woei-Chyn|WC|']
D000203:Activities of Daily Living D000328:Adult D001930:Brain Injuries D016022:Case-Control Studies D004244:Dizziness D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D004856:Postural Balance D057566:Self Report D012677:Sensation D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Balance function sensory integration mild traumatic brain injury postural stability