Center of pressure velocities in patients with body lateropulsion: three case report series of Wallenberg's syndrome

• Published in: Physiotherapy theory and practice Vol. 38; no. 13; pp. 1 - 3272
• Main Authors: Matsuo, Hideaki, Kubota, Masafumi, Matsumura, Mayumi, Takayama, Mami, Mae, Yuri, Kitazaki, Yuki, Enomoto, Soichi, Ueno, Asako, Ikawa, Masamichi, Hamano, Tadanori, Takahashi, Ai, Tsubokawa, Misao, Shimada, Seiichiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis Ltd 18-11-2022
• Subjects: Case reports; Gravity; Rehabilitation; Velocity; Walking; Wallenberg’s syndrome; Body lateropulsion; velocity; center of pressure; postural dysregulation; case series
• ISSN: 0959-3985; 1532-5040
• DOI: 10.1080/09593985.2021.1990448

In patients with Wallenberg's syndrome who present with body lateropulsion (BL), whether the center of pressure (COP) position and velocity characterize postural dysregulation is unknown. We measured time-course changes in COP parameters in three BL patients.
Three patients with acute Wallenberg's syndrome presented with BL. COP was measured for time-course changes during first standing and every week thereafter. COP positions, which indicate the deviation in the center of gravity, were calculated. COP velocities associated with dynamic movements of the center of gravity were analyzed separately for the BL and non-BL sides.
All patients showed that COP position shifted to the BL side in first standing and changed to the center over time. COP velocities to the BL side were fast in first standing. Two of the three patients had significantly faster COP velocities to the BL side than to the non-BL side (
< .05), and one did not. In all three cases, the faster COP velocities to the BL side decreased significantly after 2 weeks compared to the initial standing position (
< .001). The change seemed to be related to the time when independent walking became possible.
Fast COP velocity to the BL side might reflect postural dysregulation in patients with BL. These findings might be useful information for devising effective rehabilitation in patients with BL.