Inventors:
Carlo J. De Luca - Wellesley Hills MA
James J. Collins - Brighton MA
Assignee:
Trustees of Boston University - Boston MA
International Classification:
A61B 5103
Abstract:
A method and an apparatus for analyzing the human postural control system includes computing the mean square displacement of the center of pressure beneath a subject's feet vs. the time interval. The result is plotted as a stabilogram diffusion plot. The stabilogram diffusion plot, since reproducible, provides physiologically meaningful information from which an assessment of the subject's postural control system can be made. A Brownian diffusion coefficient, which is indicative of the level of stochastic activity of the center of pressure, can be calculated from the slope of the stabilogram diffusion plot. Also, from the slope of the log-log stabilogram diffusion plot, a determination can be made as to whether the system is moving closer to or away from a state of relative equilibrium. Finally, a short term open-loop postural control scheme, which operates before a long term closed-loop feedback postural control scheme activates, can be studied from the stabilogram diffusion plot. Also, from the stabilogram diffusion plot, a determination can be made as to when the postural control system switches from open-loop control to closed-loop control.