Posturography techniques to identify balance problems in elderly individuals with vestibulopathy – a comparison study

• Elderly people have less ability to maintain posture. • Postural instability can lead to imbalance and falls. • Computerized dynamic posturography was more sensitive to detect imbalance in elderly. • Mobile posturography can identify postural instability in the elderly in Condition 4. To compare the postugraphic outcomes of two different methods in four basic postural conditions. The individuals with vestibular disorders were divided into two subgroups according to their age: more than 60-years old and aged between 18 and 60. All the participants underwent to computerized dynamic posturography (EquiTest System®) and a mobile posturography (Vertiguard System®) in four test conditions: (1) Eyes open and stable surface, (2) Eyes closed and stable surface, (4) Eyes open and unstable surface, (5) Eyes closed and unstable surface. The elderly group presented worse overall outcomes in computerized dynamic posturography compared to controls. These outcomes were not different between groups when mobile posturography was used. For both methods, the results were not different between groups when the Conditions 1, 2 and 5 were evaluated separately. A significantly higher proportion of elderly subjects exhibited alterations in C4 during mobile posturography. Computerized dynamic posturography was overall more sensitive at detecting abnormal postural sway in elderly individuals with vestibular disorders. In mobile posturography, Condition 4 also seemed particularly sensitive at detecting postural instability. 2.