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On Mathematical Models to Control Three Upright Postures in the Elderly

Fumiya Kinoshita¹, Yuta Fukui¹, Masumi Takada², Masashi Furuta³, Takayuki Hirata¹ and Hiroki Takada^1,2*

¹Graduate School of Engineering, University of Fukui, Fukui 910-8507, Japan
²Graduate School of Medicine, Aichi University of Medicine, Nagakute 480-1195, Japan
³Department of School Health Sciences, Aichi University of Education, 1 Hirosawa, Kariya, Aichi 448-8542, Japan
*E-mail address: takada@u-fukui.ac.jp

(Received December 11, 2013; Accepted December 20, 2013)

Abstract. Stabilometry, which is useful for quantitative evaluation of equilibrium function, is generally performed using Romberg’s posture. However, there is a risk of falls in diagnosing diseases (Meniere disease, sudden deafness accompanied by vertigo, and vestibular neuronitis), measurement of body sway, and course observation of vertigo and balance dysfunction using stabilometry. The aim of this study was to compare the mathematical model in Romberg’s posture with that in a posture in which the heels are together and feet are parallel. Stabilograms of the elderly were recorded with each posture. The distribution of stabilograms in the 2 postures did not also differ significantly. Therefore, we considered that there was no effect of the postural difference on their stability.

Keywords: Body Sway, Stabilogram, Romberg’s Posture, Stochastic Differential Equation (SDE), Temporally Averaged Potential Function