Characterisation of balance capacity in Prader-Willi patients.
Adults with Prader-Willi Syndrome sway more than equally obese peers—screen balance and target forward-back control.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Capodaglio et al. (2011) tested standing balance in adults with Prader-Willi Syndrome.
They compared the group to adults who were equally obese and to healthy-weight adults.
All participants stood still on a force plate while the machine recorded tiny body sway.
What they found
The PWS group swayed much more, especially forward and back.
Even when weight was the same, PWS balance was worse.
The authors say the syndrome itself, not just obesity, hurts balance.
How this fits with other research
Cimolin et al. (2011) ran a similar lab test the same year.
They also saw the biggest forward-back sway in PWS, adding that Down syndrome adults looked better.
Galli et al. (2011) matched PWS adults against Ehlers-Danlos adults and found both groups swayed the same large amount.
Together the three 2011 papers paint the same picture: PWS balance is poor and the deficit is easy to spot on a force plate.
Why it matters
If you serve adults with PWS, expect falls and plan for them.
Add short static-balance checks to your intake.
Target forward-back control in exercise plans and ask PT to use force-plate scores to track progress.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Being severely overweight is a distinctive clinical feature of Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). This explorative study aims to characterise balance capacity in PWS as compared to non-genetically obese patients (O) and to a group of normal-weight individuals (CG). We enrolled 14 PWS patients: 8 females and 6 males (BMI = 41.3 ± 7.3 kg/m(2), age = 32.86+4.42 years), 44 obese individuals, 22 males and 22 females (BMI = 40.6 ± 4.6 kg/m(2), age = 34.2 ± 10.7 years) and 20 controls (CG: 10 females and 10 males; BMI: 21.6 ± 1.6 kg/m(2); age: 30.5 ± 5.3 years). Postural acquisitions were conducted by means of a force platform from which the COP pattern vs time was analysed. The participants were required to stand barefoot on the platform with eyes open and heels at standardized distance and position for 60s. All of the analysed parameters were statistically different from O and CG groups. PWS individuals showed greater displacements in both the A/P and M/L direction (RMS, RANGE and MV indices). Analysis of the overall planar movement of the CoP showed that the PWS patients were characterised by higher RMS distance from the centre (RMS(CoP) index) and area of confidence ellipse (AREA(CoP) index) when compared both to obese and healthy individuals. PWS patients showed a poorer balance capacity than their non-genetically obese counterparts and healthy individuals, with greater differences in both the A/P and M/L direction than O. Rehabilitation programs for PWS should take this finding into account. In addition to weight loss, strengthening of ankle flexors/extensors, and balance training, tailored interventions aimed at improving A/P control should be given particular consideration.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2011 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2010.09.002