Method and apparatus for evaluating among the trunk and limbs of the body the distribution of two types of disorder affecting posture and equilibrium control: (1) inability to receive and correctly interpret somatosensory orientation and movement information derived from those body and limb parts in contact with supporting surfaces and (2) inability to coordinate the muscular contractions in those body and limb parts in contact with a supporting surface to execute functionally effective postural movements. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention: (1) the subject (10) assumes a position of equilibrium while at least two body or limb parts are supported on independent surfaces (11,11'); (2) support surface inputs are disrupted from all but one of the supported body or limb parts; (3) the ability of the subject to utilize support surface inputs from each supported body and limb part to maintain the assumed equilibrium position is assessed by measuring the extent of spontaneously occurring displacements from the assumed equilibrium position; (4) the ability of the subject to coordinate postural movements with each supported body or limb part is assessed by imposing brief waveforms of support surface displacements; (5) steps 1 through 4 are repeated with support surface inputs disrupted from a different combination of all but one of the supported body and limb parts; and (6) the distribution of impaired ability to receive and interpret support surface inputs and to coordinate postural movements among the body and limb parts providing postural support is selectively assessed by comparing quantitive measures of spontaneous displacements from the assumed equilibrium position and postural movements. <IMAGE>
Apparatus for movement coordination analysis