Upright posture calls for harmony of muscles to maintain balance in the gravitational field. Its stabilized and compensated lability is the prerequisite of proper motility of man. The upper cervical spine is a separate functional region of dominating importance which initiates movement in other parts of the axial system. In our investigation we tested in a group of healthy young subjects the effect of fixation of the cervical spine on maintenance of balance. The testing proceeded in eight postural static tests. Fixation of the cervical spine was ensured by a firm collar of the Philadelphia type. For evaluation of balance control we used the method of assessment of reaction forces on a tensometric plane. It was revealed: 1. Fixation of the cervical spine by a collar did not cause deterioration of the stability of healthy probands in an erect position in statical tests. In some tests even improvement of balance control during fixation of the cervical spine by a collar was observed. 2. There is a significant correlation between the clinical and laboratory evaluation of balance control. The investigation indicates the importance of posturography in clinical physiotherapy and in physi- otherapeutic research and reveals new aspects of relations of the cervical spine and mechanisms of maintenance of balance.

        Key words: balance control, cervical spine, collar, tensometric platform, posturography