HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Horak, F. B Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Horak, F. B Related Collections Balance Training Therapeutic Exercise Balance Falls and Falls Prevention Related Articles Social Bookmarking                      What's this?

Invited Commentary

FB Horak, PhD, PT, is Senior Scientist, RS Dow Neurological Sciences Institute, 1120 NW 20th Ave, Portland, OR 97209-1595

This excerpt was created in the absence of an abstract.

This study on the effects of tai chi quan and computerized balance training on postural stability raises several important issues for physical therapists who are interested in improving balance in their patients: (1) Sway in stance is not a direct measure of functional postural stability, (2) fear of falling can affect postural strategies, and (3) balance training must be specific for the specific balance problem.

Unfortunately, the authors equate "postural stability" with a measure of sway involving excursion of forces (center of pressure) measured at the surface in stance. Measures of sway, either from surface forces or from body motion, should not be generalized into statements characterizing an individual's postural stability. Postural stability refers to the ability to maintain equilibrium by controlling the body's center of mass and to prevent unintentional falls.¹...

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

Related Articles

The Effect of Tai Chi Quan and Computerized Balance Training on Postural Stability in Older Subjects

Steven L Wolf, Huiman X Barnhart, Gary L Ellison, Carol E Coogler, and Atlanta FICSIT Group
Physical Therapy 1997 77: 371-381. [Abstract] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. M Kuukkanen and E. A Malkia An experimental controlled study on postural sway and therapeutic exercise in subjects with low back pain Clinical Rehabilitation, February 1, 2000; 14(2): 192 - 202. [Abstract] [PDF]