Assessment of Balance System Impairments in Ehlers-danlos Syndrome Patients Using Sensory Organization Test

Thursday, October 30, 2025

10:30 AM - 10:45 AM

Location: ROOM: Private Dining Room #4 >>> DIRECTIONS Third Floor >>> From the Main Elevator Bank, take the elevator to the 3rd Floor. Turn left and walk past Astoria and turn left into the corridor. PDR #4 is at the end of the hallway.

Non-presenting author(s)

Emily R. Rosario, n/a

Director of Research
Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare
Pomona, California, United States

Presenting Author(s)

Madeline Williams, PT, DPT, NCS (she/her/hers)

Physical Therapist
Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare
Pomona, CA, United States

Slides Slides

Non-presenting Author(s)

PR

Patricia Roney, PT, DPT

Former Director, EDS Program
Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare
Pomona, California, United States

This presentation highlights emerging research exploring balance dysfunction in individuals with Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) through the use of Sensory Organization Testing (SOT). EDS is characterized by hypermobility, chronic pain, and joint instability, which can contribute to impaired sensory integration and postural control. The study examines how deficits in vestibular, visual, and somatosensory systems manifest in this population, with an emphasis on identifying clinical patterns and rehabilitation implications. Attendees will gain insight into the unique balance challenges faced by individuals with EDS, the role of proximal stability and lower extremity strengthening in intervention, and the importance of incorporating vestibular and visual assessments into practice. Findings from this work provide a foundation for more targeted rehabilitation strategies aimed at improving functional outcomes and quality of life in this underserved population.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion, participant will be able to describe specific deficits in the vestibular and visual systems identified through the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) in EDS patients.
Upon completion, participant will discuss insights into why VOMS assessments and detailed examinations of the visual and vestibular systems are crucial for EDS patients based on the study findings.
Upon completion, participant will emphasize the significance of the observed reliance on ankle strategy over hip strategy in EDS patients during balance trials and its implications for rehabilitation strategies.