T h e B a l a n c e C o n t r o li n U p r i g h t P o s t u r e a n d F i x a t i o n o f t h e C e r v i c a l S p i n e – P o s t u r o g r a p-h i c S t u d y

Overview

Upright posture calls for harmony of muscles to maintain balance in the gravitational field. Itsstabilized and compensated lability is the prerequisite of proper motility of man. The upper cervicalspine is a separate functional region of dominating importance which initiates movement in otherparts of the axial system. In our investigation we tested in a group of healthy young subjects theeffect of fixation of the cervical spine on maintenance of balance. The testing proceeded in eightpostural static tests. Fixation of the cervical spine was ensured by a firm collar of the Philadelphiatype. For evaluation of balance control we used the method of assessment of reaction forces ona tensometric plane. It was revealed:1. Fixation of the cervical spine by a collar did not cause deterioration of the stability of healthyprobands in an erect position in statical tests. In some tests even improvement of balance controlduring fixation of the cervical spine by a collar was observed.2. There is a significant correlation between the clinical and laboratory evaluation of balance control.The investigation indicates the importance of posturography in clinical physiotherapy and in physi-otherapeutic research and reveals new aspects of relations of the cervical spine and mechanismsof maintenance of balance.

Key words:
balance control, cervical spine, collar, tensometric platform, posturography