Affiliations: [a] Department of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and Motol University Hospital, Czech Republic | [b] Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Czech Technical University, Prague, Czech Republic | [c] Department of Neurology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and Motol University Hospital, Czech Republic
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Ondřej akrt, Department of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and Motol University Hospital, Czech Republic, V Úvalu 84, 150 06 Prague 5, Czech Republic. Tel.: +420 224 439 201; Fax: +420 224 439 220; E-mail:ondrej.cakrt@lf2.cuni.cz
Abstract: Perception of verticality can be assessed in two different ways: measuring
of subjective visual vertical (SVV) and subjective haptic vertical (SHV).
The evidence on aging of SVV and SVH is not conclusive and there is just
little knowledge focused on this issue. The aim of this study was to compare
accuracy of perception of SVV and SHV between groups of young and elderly
healthy subjects. SVV examination was performed using the bucket test. An
experimental tactile device was used to assess perceived SHV. Measurements
of SVV and SHV were made in 27 young healthy and 30 elderly healthy
subjects, both groups were right-handed due to self-report. SHV
estimated position was significantly different (p< 0.01) in young and elderly
(counterclockwise shift of 0.72 ± 3.70° and 3.51 ± 3.99°,
respectively) and the SHV range (4.17 ± 5.40° and 9.64 ± 7.42°, respectively) was also different (p< 0.01). The differences were caused by
significant difference in the supination maneuver (clockwise rod rotation,
p< 0.001) which resulted in counterclockwise shift of 2.80 ± 4.90°
and 8.33 ± 4.62° in young and elderly respectively. Pronation part
of the SHV task (counterclockwise rod rotation) did not significantly differ
between groups. SVV estimated position and range were not statistically
different between young and elderly. These results provide evidence that the
ability to detect SVV is not impaired, SHV seems also not to be affected by
aging but there may be methodologic issues in SHV testing in elderly which
should be controled for in future studies. Results of both pronation and
supination maneuvers should be provided along with SHV position.
