Postural control behavior in women with dizziness

Abstract

Vestibular dysfunctions normally manifest as dizziness, which is characterized by a subjective body balance disturbance. The present study aimed to analyze the influence of women’s self-perception of the level of dizziness on their postural behavior. This cross-sectional research was conducted with women 30 years old or more with a complaint of dizziness for at least three months. Anthropometric data were collected, as well as information on the level of dizziness and static postural control assessment (both with eyes open and closed). The descriptive and inferential analyses of the data were carried out with the SPSS 23.0 software. The clinical test scores were submitted to the Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test and Student’s t-test for independent samples. The sample comprised 59 women, mean age 69.05 (±13.77) years. Regarding intensity, 37.2% had mild dizziness, 32.2% had moderate dizziness, and 30.5% had severe dizziness. The balance motor control pattern identified a lower limb prevalence on the total sway surface of the elliptic area both with eyes open (p = 0.012) and closed (p = 0.024), as well as anteroposterior sway with eyes open in the group with severe dizziness (p = 0.041). The self-perception of the level of dizziness influenced these women’s postural behavior.