Balance control and balance recovery in obesity

Excessive body weight negatively affects balance. Clinical examination provides insight into the physiopathology and etiology of balance disorders and functional scales can rate its severity. Instrumental evaluation can add further information and provide objective baseline and outcome measures for evidence-based rehabilitation programs. Static posturography focuses on the properties of the center of pressure trajectory using time series. Its utility in clinical practice is limited by absence of a definite normal pattern, lack of standardization in the measurement protocols, and large number of variables computed from the force platform. Recently, some advanced mathematical methods have been proposed to describe the biological signals (entropy and fractal dimension). The increased body mass produces anteroposterior instability in both genders and mediolateral destabilization in males. Proprioceptive exercises together with isometric strengthening of the ankle agonist and antagonist muscles, cardiorespiratory conditioning, and exercises aimed at improving perception of the body should be implemented in the rehabilitation program.