Can Balance Predict Motion Sickness?
Review finds postural instability often precedes symptoms, but evidence is mixed on causality
By
Henry Thomas
January 15, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Can Balance Predict Motion Sickness?
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Motion Sickness Key Mechanisms Postural instability may precede motion sickness but lacks definitive cause-and-effect evidence. Target Population Individuals aged 9 to 63 years Care Setting Clinical and research settings
Key Highlights
Postural instability often occurs before motion sickness onset. Evidence for a cause-and-effect relationship is currently inadequate. Variations in symptom presentation and measurement tools limit comparability. Multiple contexts of motion sickness were analyzed, including car sickness and cybersickness. Future studies should focus on balance-based interventions and multimodal assessments. Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Utilize symptom questionnaires like the Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire. Management
Conduct randomized controlled trials of balance-based interventions. Monitoring & Follow-up
Measure postural control using force platforms or balance boards. Risks
Inconsistent relationships between postural measures and symptom development. Patient & Prescribing Data
Participants in studies aged 9 to 63 years.
Balance-based interventions are recommended for future research.
Clinical Best Practices
Integrate vestibular, visual, and postural measurements in studies. Conduct extensive, multicenter, randomized controlled studies. Related Resources & Content
