Visual observation of postural orientation with two-dimensional footage in a healthy physically active population – using a predefined test battery and rating scale

Abstract: Background The two main functional goals of postural control are postural stability (balance) and postural orientation. Postural orientation is the ability to maintain alignment between body segments and the environment during a static or dynamic activity. Nae et al. have evaluated the measurement properties of a clinical test battery for assessing postural orientation errors (POEs) in patients with knee injury. However, no data from healthy active individuals were collected and therefore we want to assess POEs in a healthy physically active population using the test battery and rating scale. Aim The aim of this study was to describe postural orientation errors in a healthy physically active population assessed with visual observation using a predefined test battery and rating scale. Study design Cross-sectional study. Method 30 healthy controls (median age 26 years (interquartile range 25-29), 50% males) were video recorded from a frontal view when performing functional tasks. The test battery included the following functional tasks: single-leg stand for 30 seconds, single-leg mini-squat, stair descent, forward lunge, single-leg hop for distance and single-leg side hop. The tasks were performed 3-5 repetitions. Within each task, 4 different segment-specific POEs were assessed: femoral valgus, deviation of pelvis in any plane, deviation of trunk in any plane and knee-medial-to-foot position. POEs are presented as total POE score, within task POE score and segment-specific POE score. Results Total POE score of the group showed a median value of 7 and 8, with interquartile range between 5-13. For within task POE score the group scored a median value between 8-19 in all tasks except for single-leg stand and stair descent, which had a median value of 0. Segment-specific POE scores were displayed in all segments with a median score between 5-17, depending on segment. Conclusion In our study we found that a healthy physically active population display low values of POE scores. POEs were seen across all tasks except single-leg stand and stair descent, where the most POEs were seen in single-leg hop for distance. In the segment-specific category POEs were seen throughout the different segments but no common denominator could be identified.