Postural analysis in a pediatric cohort of patients with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: a pilot study

BACKGROUND The Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) is a rare disorder affecting the connective tissue. EDS patients may suffer of proprioception and balance impairment but all the studies dealing with such symptoms have been addressed to adult subjects. The Study of such impairment in younger patients may lead to a better awareness of own motor abilities and to a focused rehabilitative intervention. Therefore, our work aims to assess the occurrence of these alterations in a pediatric cohort of EDS patients. METHODS The Research was designed as a cross-sectional study with a matching control group and performed on a pediatric cohort of 12 subjects with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (Classic and Hypermobility type) and on 12 healthy controls, during a follow-up visit at the Department of Pediatrics and at the Rehabilitation Unit of the Foundation IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, in Pavia from April 2015 to October 2015. A square forceplatform was used to obtain the CoP (center of pressure) displacement during quiet standing during an open and a closed eyes trials. The comparisons between EDS and control group were performed using a t-test for independent data. P