Balance control is compromised in patients with leprosy

Objectives: To analyse the balance control of individuals with leprosy compared to healthy individuals.
Methods: Leprosy patients and healthy controls were recruited through the Universidade de Sa˜o Paulo, Brasil. During the data collection process, individuals stood on a force plate (Pro Balance Master 8.1.0, Neurocomw, Inc, Oregon, USA) and received verbal instructions to remain motionless, with arms at their sides and feet positioned in a standard location on the plate, while movement in the subject’s Centre of Pressure (COP) was recorded.
Results: Significant differences were found for Area (A) of Centre of Pressure (COP) (area of an ellipse comprising 85% of the sampled COP) in conditions 2 (individual standing barefoot, with eyes closed on a stable force plate), 3 (individual standing barefoot, with eyes open on an unstable force plate), and 4 (individual standing barefoot, with eyes closed on an unstable force plate) (P ¼ 0·044, P ¼ 0·001, and P ¼ 0·001, respectively), for Velocity of COP in side-to-side direction (Vx) in condition 3 (P ¼ 0·039), and for Velocity of COP in forwardbackward direction (Vy) in conditions 1 (individual standing barefoot, with eyes open on a stable force plate), 2, and 3 (P ¼ 0·023, P ¼ 0·050, and P ¼ 0·022, respectively).
Conclusions: Balance control among individuals with leprosy presented greater Area and Velocity of COP oscillation especially in the forward-backward direction, when compared to healthy individuals.