Standing on a Double-Seesaw Device is an Easy Way to Modify the Coordination Between the Two Feet for Controlling Upright Stance: Assessment Through Weight-Bearing Asymmetry

Motor Control ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 408-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrice R. Rougier ◽  
Thibaud Coquard ◽  
Thierry Paillard ◽  
Clément Ankaoua ◽  
Jeanne Dury ◽  
...  

Healthy young subjects were instructed to modify their weight-bearing asymmetry when standing on a double-seesaw device. The results indicated decreased and unchanged amplitudes in the center-of-pressure movements under the unloaded and loaded legs, respectively. In addition, a concomitant increased contribution of the more loaded leg and a decreased contribution of the pressure distribution mechanism along the mediolateral axis were observed in the production of the resultant center of pressure, its amplitude remaining constant. Thus, contrary to what was previously reported for stance control on solid ground, one of the main characteristics of a double-seesaw device, by preventing increased amplitudes on the loaded side during weight-bearing asymmetry, would be to facilitate a greater independency of the feet in the stance control process.

2010 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Rizza ◽  
XueCheng Liu ◽  
John Thometz ◽  
Roger Lyon ◽  
Channing Tassone

Clubfoot is a common pediatric orthopaedic deformity. Despite the popularity of Ponseti’s method and night splints such as the Denis–Browne method, there is still an 11–47% rate of deformity relapse reported in the literature. The technique to make traditional orthotics is dependent on a nonweight-bearing casting or foot imprint. These splints outdate clinical treatment trends and only apply to patients who are of nonwalking age. This study shows that a new procedure utilizing computer aided design and the finite element method can be employed to develop a customized weight-bearing dynamic orthotic. In addition, the plantar pressure distribution and the trajectory of the center of this pressure distribution are used to design the orthotic. It is shown that the trajectory of the center of pressure, traditionally used in gait analysis, can be used not only to quantify the severity of the foot deformity but to design a custom orthotic as well. Also, the new procedure allows the custom orthotic to be designed and analyzed within a day. The new orthotic design is composed of soft foam interior layers and a polymer supportive exterior layer. It is proved that rapid prototyping technologies employing selective laser sintering can be used to construct these layers to produce a custom orthotic within a 24 h time frame.


2012 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 646-649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kylee North ◽  
Michael Q. Potter ◽  
Erik N. Kubiak ◽  
Stacy J. Morris Bamberg ◽  
Robert W. Hitchcock

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1450
Author(s):  
Alfredo Ciniglio ◽  
Annamaria Guiotto ◽  
Fabiola Spolaor ◽  
Zimi Sawacha

The quantification of plantar pressure distribution is widely done in the diagnosis of lower limbs deformities, gait analysis, footwear design, and sport applications. To date, a number of pressure insole layouts have been proposed, with different configurations according to their applications. The goal of this study is to assess the validity of a 16-sensors (1.5 × 1.5 cm) pressure insole to detect plantar pressure distribution during different tasks in the clinic and sport domains. The data of 39 healthy adults, acquired with a Pedar-X® system (Novel GmbH, Munich, Germany) during walking, weight lifting, and drop landing, were used to simulate the insole. The sensors were distributed by considering the location of the peak pressure on all trials: 4 on the hindfoot, 3 on the midfoot, and 9 on the forefoot. The following variables were computed with both systems and compared by estimating the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE): Peak/Mean Pressure, Ground Reaction Force (GRF), Center of Pressure (COP), the distance between COP and the origin, the Contact Area. The lowest (0.61%) and highest (82.4%) RMSE values were detected during gait on the medial-lateral COP and the GRF, respectively. This approach could be used for testing different layouts on various applications prior to production.


2012 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 583-594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lidiane Teles de Menezes ◽  
Paulo Henrique Ferreira de Araujo Barbosa ◽  
Abraão Souza Costa ◽  
Anderson Castro Mundim ◽  
Gabrielly Craveiro Ramos ◽  
...  

INTRODUCTION: Although baropodometric analysis has been published since the 1990s, only now it is found a considerable number of studies showing different uses in the rehabilitation. OBJECTIVE: To amplify the use of this technology, this research aimed to analyze baropodometric records during upright position of subjects with hemiparesis, describing a way to define weight-bearing profiles in this population. METHOD: 20 healthy subjects were matched by gender and age with 12 subjects with chronic spastic hemiparesis. This control group was formed to establish the limits of symmetry during weight-bearing distribution in the hemiparesis group. Next, hemiparesis group was submitted to procedures to measure baropodometric records used to provide variables related to the weight-bearing distribution, the arch index and the displacements in the center of pressure (CoP). Data were used to compare differences among kinds of weight-bearing distribution (symmetric, asymmetric toward non-paretic or paretic foot) and coordination system for CoP displacements. RESULTS: Hemiparesis group was compounded by eight symmetrics, eight asymmetrics toward non-paretic foot and four asymmetric toward paretic foot. Significant differences in the weight-bearing distributions between non-predominantly and predominantly used foot did not promote differences in the other baropodometric records (peak and mean of pressure, and support area). Mainly in the asymmetry toward non-paretic foot it was observed significant modifications of the baropodometric records. CONCLUSION: Baropodometric technology can be used to analyze weight-bearing distribution during upright position of subjects with hemiparesis, detecting different kinds of weight-bearing profiles useful to therapeutic programs and researches involving subjects with this disability.


2007 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 261-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriana M. Degani ◽  
Alessander Danna-Dos-Santos ◽  
Mark L. Latash

We tested the hypothesis that a sequence of mechanical events occurs preceding a step that scales in time and magnitude as a whole in a task-specific manner, and is a reflection of a “motor program.” Young subjects made a step under three speed instructions and four tasks: stepping straight ahead, down a stair, up a stair, and over an obstacle. Larger center-of-pressure (COP) and force adjustments in the anteriorposterior direction and smaller COP and force adjustments in the mediolateral direction were seen during stepping forward and down a stair, as compared with the tasks of stepping up a stair and over an obstacle. These differences were accentuated during stepping under the simple reaction time instruction. These results speak against the hypothesis of a single motor program that would underlie postural preparation to stepping. They are more compatible with the reference configuration hypothesis of whole-body actions.


2003 ◽  
Vol 12 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 77-85
Author(s):  
Anthony P. Scinicariello ◽  
J. Timothy Inglis ◽  
J.J. Collins

Galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) is a technique in which small currents are delivered transcutaneously to the afferent nerve endings of the vestibular system through electrodes placed over the mastoid bones. The applied current alters the firing rates of the peripheral vestibular afferents, causing a shift in a standing subject's vestibular perception and a corresponding postural sway. Previously, we showed that in subjects who are facing forward, stochastic bipolar binaural GVS leads to coherent stochastic mediolateral postural sway. The goal of this pilot study was to extend that work and to test the hypothesis that in subjects who are facing forward, stochastic monopolar binaural GVS leads to coherent stochastic anteroposterior postural sway. Stochastic monopolar binaural GVS was applied to ten healthy young subjects. Twenty-four trials, each containing a different galvanic input stimulus from among eight different frequency ranges, were conducted on each subject. Postural sway was evaluated through analysis of the center-of-pressure (COP) displacements under each subject's feet. Spectral analysis was performed on the galvanic stimuli and the COP displacement time series to calculate the coherence spectra. Significant coherence was found between the galvanic input signal and the anteroposterior COP displacement in some of the trials (i.e., at least one) in nine of the ten subjects. In general, the coherence values were highest for the mid-range frequencies that were tested, and lowest for the low- and high-range frequencies. However, the coherence values we obtained were lower than those we previously reported for stochastic bipolar binaural GVS and mediolateral sway. These differences may be due to fundamental characteristics of the vestibular system such as lower sensitivity to symmetric changes in afferent firing dynamics, and/or differences between the biomechanics of anteroposterior and mediolateral sway.


1999 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 197-205
Author(s):  
L.L. Borger ◽  
S.L. Whitney ◽  
M.S. Redfern ◽  
J.M. Furman

Postural sway during stance has been found to be sensitive to moving visual scenes in young adults, children, and those with vestibular disease. The effect of visual environments on balance in elderly individuals is relatively unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare postural sway responses of healthy elderly to those of young subjects when both groups were exposed to a moving visual scene. Peak to peak, root mean squared, and mean velocity of the center of pressure were analyzed under conditions combining four moving scene amplitudes ( 2 . 5 ∘ , 5 ∘ , 7 . 5 ∘ , 10 ∘ ) and two frequencies of scene movement (0.1 Hz, 0.25 Hz). Each visual condition was tested with a fixed floor and sway referenced platform. Results showed that elderly subjects swayed more than younger subjects when experiencing a moving visual scene under all conditions. The elderly were affected more than the young by sway referencing the platform. The differences between the two age groups were greater at increased amplitudes of scene movement. These results suggest that elderly are more influenced by dynamic visual information for balance than the young, particularly when cues from the ankles are altered.


2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. 975-983
Author(s):  
Sunee BOVONSUNTHONCHAI ◽  
Pichaya HENGSOMBOON ◽  
Sitapa TANGLUANG ◽  
Pran ANUSRI ◽  
Pavitta CHOTIKUL ◽  
...  

Postural balance is influenced by alteration of somatosensory inputs. Sound and vibratory senses, one of several human senses may assist the postural control in a specific impaired situation. The aim of this pilot study was to quantify the effect of sound and vibration on postural balance in healthy young adults. Ten healthy young subjects volunteered to participate in the study. The average age, weight, height, and body mass index were 21.88 ± 0.42 years, 56.21 ± 9.80 kg, 159.75 ± 5.20 cm, and 21.99 ± 3.52 kg/m2. They were assessed for standing postural balance on a force plate over 6 conditions of sound and vibration applications under vision was excluded by using a blindfold. Postural balance variables consisted of planar deviation of Center of Pressure (CoP) and the maximum ranges of CoP in the medio-lateral (ML) and antero-posterior (AP) directions. Two-way ANOVA was used to find the effect and interaction effect of sound and vibration on the postural balance variables. Further analyses of the variables were performed on a basis of each factor. Between sound conditions (no sound and open sound), the variables were analyzed by the paired t-test. In addition, the effect of vibration (no vibration, vibration on quadriceps, and vibration on gastrocnemius) on the variables were analyzed by the one-way repeated measure ANOVA. Results demonstrated no interaction effect and main effect of sound and vibration on the postural balance variables (p > 0.05). In addtion, no significant difference of the postural balance variables between sound conditions (p > 0.05) as well as among vibration conditions (p > 0.05). In conclusion, sound and vibration did not effect to the postural balance during standing in healty young adults.


PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e10363
Author(s):  
Martin Kucharik ◽  
Zuzana Kosutzka ◽  
Jozef Pucik ◽  
Michal Hajduk ◽  
Marian Saling

Background The ability to maintain balance in an upright stance gradually worsens with age and is even more difficult for patients with cognitive disorders. Cognitive impairment plays a probable role in the worsening of stability. The purpose of this study was to expose subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and healthy, age-matched controls to moving visual scenes in order to examine their postural adaptation abilities. Methods We observed postural responses to moving visual stimulation while subjects stood on a force platform. The visual disturbance was created by interposing a moving picture in four directions (forward, backward, right, and left). The pre-stimulus (a static scene for 10 s), stimulus (a dynamic visual scene for 20 seconds) and post-stimulus (a static scene for 20 seconds) periods were evaluated. We separately analyzed the total path (TP) of the center of pressure (COP) and the root mean square (RMS) of the COP displacement in all four directions. Results We found differences in the TP of the COP during the post-stimulus period for all stimulus directions except in motion towards the subject (left p = 0.006, right p = 0.004, and away from the subject p = 0.009). Significant RMS differences between groups were also observed during the post-stimulus period in all directions except when directed towards the subject (left p = 0.002, right p = 0.007, and away from the subject p = 0.014). Conclusion Exposing subjects to a moving visual scene induced greater destabilization in MCI subjects compared to healthy elderly controls. Surprisingly, the moving visual scene also induced significant aftereffects in the MCI group. Our findings indicate that the MCI group had diminished adaptation to the dynamic visual scene and recovery. These results suggest that even mild cognitive deficits can impair sensory information integration and alter the sensory re-weighing process.


Author(s):  
Alessandro Mengarelli ◽  
Stefano Cardarelli ◽  
Sandro Fioretti ◽  
Laura Burattini ◽  
Francesco Di Nardo ◽  
...  

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