Objective: To determine the effect of a halo vest, a cervical orthosis, on clinically relevant balance parameters.
Design: Subjects performed unipedal stance (with eyes open and closed, on both firm and soft surfaces) and functional reach, with and without the application of a halo vest.
Subjects: A convenience sample of 12 healthy young subjects, with an equal number of men and women.
Outcome measures: Seconds for unipedal stance (maximum 45); inches for functional reach.
Results: Both unipedal stance times and functional reach (mean +/- standard deviation) were significantly decreased with the halo vest as compared to without it (29.1+/-5.8 vs. 32.8+/-6.4 seconds, p = .002; 12.9+/-1.4 vs. 15.1+/-2.1 inches, p<.01).
Conclusion: A halo vest causes an acute impairment in balance in the healthy young. It is likely that the impairment would be greater in older or injured patients, thus increasing their risk for a fall, which could have devastating consequences.