Ian Purcell MD PhD Monali Patel MD Otoneurology Call 858 223 2172
Diagnostic Testing
Diagnostic testing

Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP)

Balance platform testing that measures how vision, vestibular input, and body sensation contribute to postural control.

At a glance

What it measures
How well you use vision, the inner ear, and sensation from your feet to stay balanced
How long
About 30 minutes
Preparation
Comfortable clothing; no alcohol the day before
How it feels
Safe: a harness prevents falls while the floor or view moves
Computerized Dynamic Posturography platform
Computerized Dynamic Posturography platform

What CDP measures

Computerized Dynamic Posturography evaluates how a patient maintains balance under changing sensory conditions. The platform and visual surround can alter the reliability of body-sense and visual cues, helping identify whether a patient is over-relying on one system or struggling to integrate multiple balance inputs.

Why it is useful

CDP is especially helpful when symptoms include unsteadiness, falls, gait imbalance, visual dependence, or persistent dizziness after vestibular injury. Results can guide vestibular rehabilitation priorities and provide a baseline for tracking progress.

What to expect

  1. You wear a safety harness attached to an overhead support, so you can't fall.
  2. You stand on a platform whose sensors measure small shifts in your body sway.
  3. In a series of short trials, you stand still with your eyes open or closed while the floor or the visual surround may move slightly.
  4. In other trials the platform moves briefly to see how quickly and efficiently your body recovers.

How to prepare

  • Wear loose, comfortable clothing and flat shoes. You may be asked to stand in socks.
  • Avoid alcohol for 24 hours before the test.
  • If your clinician agrees, avoid medicines that cause drowsiness or suppress dizziness for 24 to 48 hours beforehand.
  • Tell the team if you can't stand without support for a few minutes, or have a recent ankle, knee, hip, or back injury.

These are general guidelines. When your test is scheduled, our office will confirm the instructions for your visit. Never stop a prescribed medication without first asking the clinician who prescribed it.

After the test

No recovery time is needed. The results show which balance senses you rely on and which are weak, and they are often used to plan and track vestibular rehabilitation.

PresbyastasisPresbyastasis is the gradual, age-related decline in balance caused by changes in the inner ear, vision, sensation, and strength, and it raises the risk of falls.Vestibular RehabilitationVestibular rehabilitation is an exercise-based therapy that retrains the brain to compensate for inner ear problems, reducing dizziness and improving balance.Post-Concussive Syndrome/Traumatic Brain InjuryAfter a concussion or other head injury, dizziness, headache, imbalance, and trouble concentrating can persist for weeks or longer, and they often respond to targeted treatment.Normal Pressure HydrocephalusNormal pressure hydrocephalus is a buildup of fluid in the brain that classically causes walking difficulty, memory problems, and bladder urgency, and it can improve with treatment.

Further reading