Posturography: What You Need to Know

27 August 2025

In this quick 2-minute read, you’ll learn:

What posturography is
What posturography tests for
The difference between traditional posturography and Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP)
Disorders commonly assessed and treated using posturography
How posturography supports balance rehabilitation
CPT codes used by physical therapists for posturography services in the United States
The clinical value of posturography in diagnosing and treating balance disorders

What is Posturography?

Posturography is a clinical method to assess how well a person can maintain balance. It evaluates postural control by measuring the body’s response to various balance challenges. These challenges often involve a moving platform and changes in visual input, helping clinicians understand how the central nervous system integrates sensory inputs—visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive—to keep the body upright.

What Does Posturography Test For?

Posturography is designed to identify deficits in the systems that contribute to balance. It evaluates:

Balance problems caused by sensory or motor deficits.
Limits of stability, or how far a person can lean without falling.
The ability to adapt to changing sensory conditions.
The effectiveness of input to maintain postural control.

The most common protocol is the Sensory Organization Test (SOT), which manipulates sensory conditions (e.g., standing with eyes open or closed) to identify which system is impaired.

Posturography vs. Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP)

While traditional posturography may involve manual observation, Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP) uses advanced technology for precise, reproducible measurements. CDP systems include:

A moving platform that shifts in response to the patient’s sway.
A visual surround that can move independently.
Software that analyzes sway patterns and compensatory strategies.

CDP provides detailed data that enhances both diagnosis and treatment planning.

Example of a CDP system: Virtualis MotionVR

Disorders Assessed and Treated with Posturography

Posturography is used to evaluate and manage a wide range of disorders, including:

Vestibular Disorders

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
Meniere’s disease
Vestibular neuritis

Neurodegenerative Disorders

Parkinson’s disease
Multiple sclerosis
Alzheimer’s disease
Stroke
Traumatic brain injury

These conditions often impair the brain’s ability to process sensory inputs, making posturography essential for accurate diagnosis.

Musculoskeletal and Age-Related Conditions

Lower limb injuries
Post-surgical recovery
Age-related decline in limits of stability

Posturography in Balance Rehabilitation

Posturography plays a vital role in balance rehab. The data collected helps design rehabilitation programs tailored to the patient’s specific deficits. For example:

If visual input is unreliable, therapy may focus on vestibular and proprioceptive compensation.
If motor control is delayed, exercises may target reaction time and strength.

By integrating posturography into vestibular rehab, clinicians can improve postural control, reduce fall risk, and enhance mobility.

Posturography CDP Codes for Physical Therapists in the U.S.

Physical therapists in the United States use CPT codes to bill for posturography services. Common codes include:

92548: Computerized dynamic posturography, sensory organization test (SOT)
92549: CDP with sensory organization testing, motor control test (MCT), and adaptation test (ADT)

These codes are used for diagnostic balance assessments involving CDP systems. Coverage may vary by provider, so therapists should verify with insurers.

Posturography, especially CDP, is a powerful tool for diagnosing and treating balance disorders. By evaluating how the body uses sensory inputs to maintain balance, clinicians can pinpoint dysfunction and create targeted rehabilitation programs. Whether you’re a provider or a patient, posturography offers a path to improved stability and quality of life.

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