Context: The multifidus muscle plays a role in controlling lumbosacral position and postural sway. One of its attachment sites is the exact site of spina bifida occulta (SBO).
Objective: To investigate the role of the muscle for postural control in SBO.
Design: Cross-sectional cohort.
Participants: Eighty subjects with SBO (38 in minor; 42 in major) and controls.
Interventions: N/A.
Main outcome measures: Subjects stood upright on a platform at 0 degrees and on an inclined surface (10 degrees and 20 degrees) with feet in plantarflexion/dorsiflexion, together with eyes open and closed. The platform system measured posture to obtain sway area and sway mean for statistics.
Results: Upon sway area/mean, the group differences of major/minor SBO vs. control were all significant. Sway means of minor SBO were lower than those of major SBO at corresponding inclined degrees.
Conclusions: Subjects with SBO demonstrated increased sway as compared to controls.