Frontiers in Medicine (Jun 2023)

A novel method of assessing balance and postural sway in patients with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

  • Miguel Whitmore,
  • Brittany Barker,
  • Katie Chudej,
  • Ciarra Goines,
  • Jenna Kester,
  • Hannah Campbell,
  • Anna Jeffcoat,
  • Brynn Castleberry,
  • Thomas William Lowder

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2023.1135473
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10

Abstract

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Patients with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) frequently suffer from poor balance and proprioception and are at an increased risk for falls. Here we present a means of assessing a variety of balance and postural conditions in a fast and non-invasive manner. The equipment required is commercially available and requires limited personnel. Patients can be repeatedly tested to determine balance and postural differences as a result of disease progression and aging, or a reversal following balance/exercise interventions.

Keywords