Objective: To examine the correlation between Berg balance scale (BBS) which is tool for assessing the clinical balance function and sensory organization test (SOT) of computerized dynamic posturography (CDP) in brain injured patients.

Method: Thirty patients with brain injury were assessed on the BBS and SOT of CDP. BBS consists of 14 items and each item is graded on a five point ordinal scale (0∼4), yielding a total of 56 points. According to its characteristics, each item was divided 3 groups, which were sitting, standing and position change. Six equilibrium scores (EQ) were determined by SOT of CDP (EquiTest System^Ⱂ, Version 5.08) under 6 conditions, and somatosensory, visual, vestibular ratios were analyzed by 6 EQ scores.

Results: EQ 5 was correlated with reaching forward item (r=0.513), turning 360 degrees item (r=0.537), stool stepping item (r=0.529) of BBS (p＜0.01). EQ 6 was correlated with turning 360 degrees item (r=0.498) of BBS (p＜0.01). Sum of standing item group scores was correlated with EQ 5 (r=0.478), EQ 6 (r=0.464), and sum of position change item scores was correlated with EQ 5 (r=0.622), EQ 6 (r=0.514)(p＜0.01). Vestibular ratio was correlated with BBS total score (r=0.552, p＜0.01).

Conclusion: We concluded that vestibular ratio of SOT was correlated with BBS, especially position change item group. Therefore BBS is a good tool for evaluating vestibular function in brain injured patients.

Objective: To determine the posturographic characteristics of the stroke patients due to various brain lesions.

Method: Stroke patients capable of standing without assistive devices were included. Patients were divided into three groups according to the lesion distribution: cerebral; brain stem; cerebellar. Quantitative computerized posturographic studies were performed to determine the subject's response to sensory (sensory organization test, SOT) and motor translations (motor control test, MCT).

Results: Equilibrium scores of 4th (EQ4), 5th (EQ5) and 6th (EQ6) conditions and visual (VIS) and vestibular (VEST) ratio of SOT were significantly lower in brainstem and cerebellar lesion groups in comparison with normal population. In addition, prolonged latencies for medium and large backward and forward translations were noticed in the brainstem lesion group. However, there was no significant difference between cerebral lesion group and normal population. According to the lesion distribution, cerebellar group showed increased incidence of abnormalities of EQ4 score. Brainstem group showed increased incidence of abnormalities in EQ5, EQ6 score, VEST ratio and prolonged latency for large forward translation.

Conclusion: We found that posturography revealed characteristic appearances according to the various brain lesions, especially in cerebellum and brainstem stroke patients.