Static stabilometry and repeated testing in a normal population.

Background: The purpose of the present study was to see if there is a learning effect of repeated static stabilometric testing, using a protocol suitable for testing postural control in narrow spaces, like hypo- and hyperbaric chambers. Hypothesis: Static stabilometry testing under normobaric conditions is objective and reproducible. With repeated testing, a learning effect may be observed. Methods: Four groups of healthy individuals were tested ten times under the same four acoustically and visually standardized and normobaric normoxic test conditions on a static balance platform. First, the subjects were asked to stand on a bare platform with the eyes open, thereafter with the eyes closed. This was repeated with a foam rubber mat placed on top of the balance platform. The time interval between the first and the last test sequence was 11 (10-13) days for the test subjects in group I (n = 22), 17 d for group II (n = 13), 31 (28-36) days for group III (n = 15) and 115 (49-193) days for group IV (n = 10). Results: Static stabilometry tests in a normal population are objective and reproducible. With repeated tests, a learning effect was observed. The learning effect was largest when standing on a foam rubber mat with eyes closed and when the time intervals between the tests were shortest. There was no difference in sway pattern or learning ability between tall and short test subjects, between subjects with heavy and light body weight or between the sexes.