Exp Brain Res. 2007 Mar 7;
[Epub ahead of print]

Postural control anomalies in children with Tourette syndrome.

Lemay M, Termoz N, Lesperance P, Chouinard S, Rouleau GA, Richer F.

Montreal Tourette Syndrome Study Group, Centre Hospitalier de l'Universite de Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.

The goal of the present study was to determine whether postural control is affected in Gilles-de-la-Tourette syndrome (TS). Center of pressure (COP) displacements were recorded in children with TS and unaffected siblings in three conditions using a force platform: (1) Eyes-Open, (2) Eyes-Closed, (3) One-Leg standing with eyes open. The COP range and velocity were higher in children with TS than in unaffected siblings in all conditions. These differences could not be attributed to age, present tic severity, comorbidities (hyperactivity and compulsions) or medication. The data suggest that sub-clinical postural control anomalies are present in TS.

PMID: 17342479 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...=pubmed_docsum

We can go for months and months and not have any new studies or information come out and all of a sudden there's lots.

I've been trying to understand this one. It's very interesting to me but I'm having trouble understanding the motor cortex just to begin with. It's a bit hard not having the full article, so maybe I should wait till I get to read that.

http://herkules.oulu.fi/isbn9514267931/html/x231.html
Postural control systems
"Corrective movements are needed to keep the centre of gravity within the base of support. To achieve this goal, co-ordination of the sensory, skeletal muscle and central nervous systems is needed."

So, what are we talking about here? The motor cortex? I see the term POS mentioned in gait control too, so I might be able to find out more in autism abstracts or other movement disorders articles.

So, I found a fair bit about it generally in a search engine and still don't know really what this all means. Anyone know more about this POS and Center of pressure (COP) displacements pertaining to movement or tics?

Lara
thanks so much for posting these very informative abstracts.

yes, i am working my way thru these too and, not understanding fully either what they are referring to, so would really value some additional input on just what may be happening here.

I'm guessing it's an issue of balance? Here is some info on postural control:

http://www.onbalance.com/clinical_in...ceControl.aspx
http://www.posturalcontrol.com/

I think this supports the notion that motor deficits can be an issue in some children with TS?