[Posturography should be included in the vertigo test].

After a brief review of different systems involved in postural control, we describe a method of posturography for exploring vestibulospinal pathways, in which postural oscillations of subject standing on a platform are recorded with eyes open then with eyes closed, and in different head and gaze positions. In normals, only closing of eyes interferes significantly with balance. Posturography is important in vertigo examinations, because it can show: vestibuloocular and vestibulospinal pathway lesions, associated or not; whether there is compensation for imbalance by visual input; cervical origin of vertigo, if any; and, in acute vestibular deficit, that good test results suggest a favorable prognosis.