RT - Journal Article T1 - The effect of genu varum deformity on balance control following postural perturbation in adolescent girls JF - HBI_Journals YR - 2013 JO - HBI_Journals VO - 18 IS - 2 UR - http://sjku.muk.ac.ir/article-1-1068-en.html SP - 67 EP - 76 K1 - Balance perturbation K1 - Genu varum K1 - Adolescent girls K1 - Postural control. AB - ABSTRACT Background and Aim: Despite the fact that balances has often been considered as a measure of lower extremity function, the effect of lower extremity malalignment on balance performance has received little attention. The aim of the present study was to examine postural control following a sudden external perturbation in adolescent girls with genu varum of the knees in comparison to age matched healthy controls. Materials and methods: This comparative and interventional study included eight adolescent girls with genu varum (age: 13. 5± 1.4 years) and eight age-matched healthy controls (age: 13.8 ± 1.3). The subjects underwent unexpected forward, backward and medio-lateral perturbations triggered by a weight equivalent to 10% of the body weight, of every subject while standing on a foot pressure system mounted on a movable plate. The displacement of the center of pressure (COP) of the feet was measured. Independent t-test was used for statistical analysis. p≤0.05 was considered significant. Results: Subjects with genu varum of the knees showed a significantly greater COP displacement after perturbation in comparison to the control group (p=0.039). Conclusion: Our findings revealed that postural control following balance perturbations is weaker in subjects with genu varum deformity than in control group. Consequently, abnormal lower limb alignment is a risk factor which can influence postural control in response to a balance perturbation. Conflict of Interest: Nil Received: Jan 17, 2012 Accepted: Dec 20, 2012 LA eng UL http://sjku.muk.ac.ir/article-1-1068-en.html M3 ER -