Influence of vibration on the equilibrium of patients with unilateral labyrinthine dysfunction]

To determine the role of proprioceptors of different skeletal muscles in posture control in patients with unilateral labyrinthine dysfunction (ULD), we studied the effect of vibration on those muscles by postulography. Subjects were 59 healthy people and 20 ULD patients. We measured the length of the displacement of the center of gravity, maximum sway length, and sway area. Significant differences were observed between healthy and ULD subjects on stimulation of the muscle groups of the upper and lower extremity during vibration. In patients with ULD, vibration to the dorsal neck muscles caused a deviation toward the diseased side. We speculate that the upper dorsal neck muscle plays an important role in maintaining body balance in the frontal plane in patients with ULD. The upper and lower extremity muscles play a significant role in adjusting standing posture.