Computerised Dynamic Posturography (Equitest)

Computerised Dynamic Posturography (CDP) was first developed in the 1980s by NeuroCom with initial support from NASA to evaluate the effects of space flight on vestibular function and balance control in astronauts. CDP can be used to quantify and differentiate between sensory, motor and central impairments in balance control. CDP helps to identify the functional deficits in balance control but does not diagnose pathology or site-of-lesion by itself. It is complimentary to vestibular function testing and helps to inform the direction(s) for balance rehabilitation in our patients.

CDP lets us isolate and quantify the contribution of vestibular, visual and somatosensory inputs for balance. During testing the patient stands on a movable dual force plate that measures their postural stability and motor reactions. Standardised test protocols expose the patient to movement of the floor plate or surrounds and their reactions are recorded. This postural data is then compared to age-matched normative data and an objective assessment of their balance impairment is formed. CDP has been considered in the literature to be the standardised quantitative method to isolate and assess the sensory and motor aspects of balance.