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Review
. 2024 Sep 10;16(9):e69052.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.69052. eCollection 2024 Sep.

Pierre-Marie Gagey and the Evolution of Posturology: Unraveling the Complexity of the Fine Postural Control System

Orlando Conde-Vázquez  1 , Sofía O Calvo-Moreno  2 , Philippe Villeneuve  3
Affiliations
Review

Pierre-Marie Gagey and the Evolution of Posturology: Unraveling the Complexity of the Fine Postural Control System

Orlando Conde-Vázquez et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

The subtle sway of human standing posture began to be studied in the 19th century. Since then, numerous approaches - from the early statokinesiometers to the more advanced force platforms or 3D-posture recording systems - have been developed to understand human postural control physiology and its clinical implications. French physician Pierre-Marie Gagey made significant contributions to the field of posturology, a discipline focused on the intricacies of human postural control. From the 1950s, he advanced the field through observation and experimentation, particularly exploring the relationship between postural muscle tone and the fine postural control system. Gagey's collaboration with researchers of that time led to the refinement of stabilometry, a technique for measuring body sway in standing positions. Throughout his career, Gagey worked across multiple disciplines, including ophthalmology, podiatry, psychology, and the study of the vestibular and stomatognathic systems, to develop a comprehensive approach to postural assessment and treatment. His efforts culminated in the standardization of stabilometry, ensuring consistent and accurate measurements across different platforms. Gagey's work emphasized the complexity of postural control, highlighting the integration of peripheral and central nervous system inputs in maintaining balance. His research has left an enduring impact on the field of posturology, providing a framework for understanding and treating postural disorders. Pierre-Marie Gagey passed away in 2023, but his pioneering contributions continue to influence the study and clinical practice of human postural control. This narrative review aims to pay tribute to Dr. Gagey's career and research activity.

Keywords: historical vignette; muscle tonus; postural balance; posturology; stabilometry.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Left: Statokinesiometer in Baron's lab. Right: Statokinesiogram. The graph shows the course of the center of pressure (CoP) movement on the coronal and sagittal planes.
Source: from the personal archives of P. Villeneuve (with the kind permission of the author).
Figure 2
Figure 2. The Postural Man.
The figure represents the main human entries for codifying gravity while standing. Extracted from [4], with the kind permission of Elsevier France through the Copyright Clearance Center.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Pierre-Marie Gagey during the International Society for Postural and Gait Research (ISPGR) World Congress in Vancouver, Canada, 2014.
Source: from the personal archives of P. Villeneuve (with the kind permission of the author).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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