Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Balance function is an important body functions, including static balance and dynamic balance.
OBJECTIVE: To describe in detail the current status and application of static and dynamic postural balance tests and propose development trend of balance tests.
METHODS: Articles related to static balance and dynamic balance were searched from Google and libraries of University of Shanghai for Science &Technology and Fudan University published between January 1990 and December 2009, with key words “balance assessment; balance testing; balance ability” in Chinese and English. Articles published in authoritative journals recently in the same field were selected. 400 articles were firstly collected, and 26 were included.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Human body balance function testing has been explored for several years. However, questions remain unclear, such as mechanism of balance, evaluation standards for balance function testing, limitations of balance function testing in disease location, diagnosis and identification. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an instrument which could totally, precisely apply in training and assessment function in low price.