Question

Velayutham, S. G., Chandra, S. R., Bharath, S., & Shankar, R. G. (2017). Quantitative balance and gait measurement in patients with frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer diseases: A pilot study. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 39(2), 176-182. doi:10.4103/0253-7176.203132 3) Give a complete description of the research design of this study.

Answer 1

In a group of 8 each probable bv FTD that was diagnosed by revised consensus criteria, probable AD, diagnosed by ADs association criteria, and healthy volunteers as controls, a total of twenty-four male subjects with 50–70 years of age. The FTD and AD groups were recruited from the Outpatient Department of Neurology and Geriatric Clinic, controls from the community. Informed consent was obtained from all and ethical clearance received from the Institute Ethical Committee. Subjects that had the; orthopedic, visual deficit, other neurological conditions, and cardiovascular ailments were not included in the group. All demographic factors including age, gender, and height, weight are recorded.

Using dynamic posturography, in single and dual tasks and gait with Biodex Gait Trainer; the balance was measured by Biodex Balance Master Incorp., USA,

The equipment has a posturography-based force platform which provides objective balance measurements in two situations, i.e., (1) dynamic balance and (2) limits of stability (LOS). It has a circular platform and a display monitor that is kept in front of the subject for seeing and getting the feedback about their status of standing. The platform becomes unstable and the subject's experience wobbling. The change in the center of pressure due to this was to be displayed on the monitor as a biofeedback as the cursor moved from the epicenter of the grid.

Each subject “base of support” requirement for the perturbed stand was tested, and subjects are asked to adjust their BOS making the tilted platform to the neutral and stable position. They can utilize the feedback about their stand position from the display monitor and instructed to target at the innermost circle or epicenter of the grid. In the end, BOS was recorded including the measurement of the angle of foot deviations and during the process.