Postural stability in individuals with and without motion sickness assessed by computerized posturography: sensory integration and balance mechanisms.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether individuals with motion sickness present differences in postural control and sensory integration compared with controls, through assessment with computerized dynamic posturography.

METHODS

A prospective study was conducted including 30 patients with motion sickness and 61 controls without balance disorders. All participants underwent limit of stability testing and the six conditions of posturography using the Horus® platform. Equilibrium scores and sensory ratios (somatosensory, visual, vestibular, and visual preference) were calculated. Statistical analyses were performed using MannWhitney, chisquare, and ANCOVA tests, adopting a 5% significance level.

RESULTS

After age adjustment, no significant differences were observed in the limit of stability area (p = 0.271) or in equilibrium scores under any of the posturography conditions. Sensory ratios and the composite equilibrium index were also similar between groups.

CONCLUSION

Individuals with motion sickness exhibited posturographic performance comparable to controls, suggesting preserved sensory integration for balance maintenance outside symptomatic episodes.