Winposturo stabilometric footboard

WINPOSTURO is an electronic stabilometric footboard to analize the balance, it was designed in cooperation with users like: posturologists, physiatrists, paramedicals and researchers. Such machine can give a final answer to the Fine Postural System Research (SPF).

The WIN-POSTURO stabilometric platform is suitable for posturologists, sport medicine, physiatrists, physiotherapists, osteopaths, vestibologists, dentists, neurologists, rheumatologists.

WINPOSTURO is also a stabilographic platform.

Stabilography is about the analysis of the upright person. Then it deals with the variation of the barycentre projection of the person referring to the support polygone, cioèwe mean the polygone we get by linking the support points of a body placed on a surface. If we refer to biomechanics applied to a person we do say a subject can keep his own balance if his Centre of Gravity (CG) is to be found inside his polygone. For this reason balance is the capability to keep the projection of the gravity centre inside the polygone. If such projection goes out of the polygone we are in a state of disequilibrium.

The analysis we made by using the platform allows us to value the postural changements of the patient (posture) compared to mathematical concepts of the analysis of the various receptorial body sensors (such eyes, vestibules, receptorial spinal, feet, occlusion). If we just consider the body as "multi-segmented" so we can really say the man is mechanically multi-articulated and physically not stable. The stabilization of this “building” is to be reached by means of a complex muscolar activity and the result can be seen by observing the distribution of the insole-strenghts to be found inside the support polygone.

If we analize a static posture, totally immobile, from the theorical point of view the position of the Centre of the Strengths (CS) and the projection of the body baricentre (BB) are joined. The statics is never perfectly fixed because the muscolar activities keep on changing and adapting as well.

Realisation and evaluation of the Statokinesigramm.
According to a procedure of usual stabilometric acquisition the subject is placed inside of a dark box on the platform with the arms along the body, steady with the eyes focal point 90 cm far from the fixing point of “sight”. After having found the balance the observer takes the acquisition for a certain period. The statokinesigramm (CF positions drawn in 2D) can be displayed in progression. Just a click of the mouse and you have the calculation, the presentation and the stabilometric parameters recording.

Clinicals and researchers look at the Static Stabilography with a double goals:

• Defining with checked scientific prescriptions the spontaneous, normal or abnormal balance of the subject.
• Just monitoring the progresses of the subject balance and suggesting at the same time instructions of re-education, different therapies according to one’s own experience also concerning toxicological, pathological or ageing aspects.

It is also possible to complete the analysis and the description of the balance either by using suitable sensorial stimulus such as: proprioceptive, vestibular and visual (…) or checking the Subject’s answers by employing different postural instructions.

Nowadays the Stabilographic Static technique is a trustful medical measurement instrument, which can be used in different ways in Clinic, rehabilitation processes, sport and medical and physical medicine etc.

WINPOSTURO: MECHANICAL AND ELECTRONIC FEATURES

WINPOSTURO can be moved and easy to use, it issues documents according to the guidelines in charge (see also GUIDELINES 85 of the French Association of Posturology). It is about a key measurement suitable both for clinicals and researchers. WINPOSTURO is once more a real measurement instrument: linear, appreciable, trustful and easy to use.

WINPOSTURO is a 3 pointed platform with high resolution with the following features:

• a perfect and immediate stability and horizontal level-control by means of adjusting screws and “gauge” indicator;
• removable podalic positioner;
• connection Plug-and-Play between the platform and PC (even mobile) with a serial standard cable.

The platform WINPOSTURO is made of an aluminium base (plate) very tough and supported by three sensors fitted with integrated amplifiers equilateral triangle shaped. WINPOSTURO software system calculates the stabilometric parameters giving in real time the instantaneous position of the Centre of the Vertical Strengths recorded by the sensors that is the Front-Rear oscillations (y axes), and Latero-Lateral oscillations (X axes). Afterwards you can check such result displayed as graphic also known as “statokinesigramm”; it can connect the so called Centres of Strengths in progress.

Hereby some functions and features of the WINPOSTURO stabilometric footboard:

• surface (mathematic calculation of the ellipsis of the 90% of the CS position sequence; graphic ellipsis with the angles;
• measurements of the Statokinesigramm length;
• intermediate position of CS (balance middle point fixed under normal conditions compared with X-Y axes and the centre of polygone by foot putting);
• the main components concerning the Front- Rear (in Y) or left-right (in X) positions compared with acquisition time;
• CS histogramm compared with X-Y axes;
• connections (self – or inter-) concernine the CS positions in X or Y compared with the time acquisition.

The platform is in compliance with:

• UE guidelines for the trade within Europe of all equipments;
• biomedical Certification for electromagnetic compatibility in the medical field and the patients’ needs. To improve electrical safe an optical bridge has been joined in the electronic system;
• guidelines 85 of the French Association of Posturology (now Association Posture Balance).

The range of use of this stabilometric platform is endless, from the clinical use in:

• Posturology;
• Sport and Physiatry;
• Physical Rehabilitation;
• Physiotherapy;
• Osteopathy;
• Paediatrics;
• Orthopedics;
• Rheumatology;
• Neurology;
• Vestibular Rehabilitation;
• Odontostomatology;
• Oftalmology and Sight Rehabilitation;
• Labour Medicine;
• Psychiatric.

To the use in the field of fundamental research:

• Postural analysis;
• Balance analysis;
• Baricentre analysis.

And the field of applied research:

• Ergonomics;
• Safety;
• Pharmacology.