How will I be tested?
Computerized dynamic posturography is simply a test of your ability to maintain balance. You will be asked to stand quietly on a platform as shown in the photograph.
During the test, you will be asked to open or close your eyes for brief periods of time. While you do so, the platform and/or the surrounding booth may or may not move. Your body will automatically respond to each test to maintain your balance. Should you lose your balance, a harness will prevent you from falling.
Your test responses will be automatically recorded by the computer for later review by the doctor. The procedure is painless and takes about 30 minutes to complete.
How will I feel?
You may experience minor feelings of dizziness or imbalance during some of the test. In a clinical environment, these symptoms provide your doctor with valuable information about your condition.
How can the test help me?
First, your doctor can learn more about the cause of your dizziness or imbalance. The test examines your ability to use the sense of balance--your eyes, inner ear, and your joints and muscles. And, it assesses your ability to perform effective movements to regain your balance.
Second, the results of the test can help your doctor determine the best course of treatment. It can also identify those environments in which you may be at risk of falling, and help you to learn techniques to prevent falls.