Topic:

Balance control is a complex motor skill, which involves the integration of many types of sensory information (sight, vestibular system and proprioception). Postural control can be modified by sensory input alterations consequent to a pathology: vision loss (retinopathy, macular degeneration), vestibular disorders (labyrinthitis, schwannoma), peripheral neuropathy (diabetes), and chronic ankle instability consequent to ankle sprains. On the other hand, specific sports training can improve balance control through an improved multisensory integration (e.g. in dancers, in football players or in volleyball players).

People:

  • Valentina Agostini (Associate Professor)
  • Marco Knaflitz (Full Professor)
  • Marco Ghislieri (Assistant Professor with time contract (RTD/a))
  • Collaborators:

  • Prof. Maria Grazia Benedetti - Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit (IRCCS), Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
  • Dr. Luciana Labanca - Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit (IRCCS), Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
  • Dr. Chanda Cavallini - Neuro-ophtalmology Unit at C. Sperino clinic (Ophthalmic Hospital of Torino, Italy)

  • Recent publications:

  • The role of central vision in posture: Postural sway adaptations in Stargardt patients
      V. Agostini, A. Sbrollini, C. Cavallini, A. Busso, G. Pignata and M. Knaflitz
      Gait & Posture
      10.1016/j.gaitpost.2015.10.003
  • Wearable Inertial Sensors to Assess Standing Balance: A Systematic Review
      M. Ghislieri, L. Gastaldi, S. Pastorelli, S. Tadano, and V. Agostini
      Sensors
      10.3390/s19194075
  • A wearable device to assess postural sway
      V. Agostini, E. Aiello, D. Fortunato, M. Knaflitz, and L. Gastaldi
      2019 IEEE 23rd International Symposium on Consumer Technologies (ISCT)
      10.1109/ISCE.2019.8901019