scholarly journals Postural Control during Progressively Increased Balance-Task Difficulty in Athletes with Unilateral Transfemoral Amputation: Effect of Ocular Mobility and Visuomotor Processing

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (17) ◽  
pp. 6242
Author(s):  
Michał Zwierko ◽  
Piotr Lesiakowski ◽  
Teresa Zwierko
Keyword(s):  
Postural Control ◽  
Task Difficulty ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Stability Index ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Transfemoral Amputation ◽  
Visuomotor Processing ◽  
Balance Task ◽  
Stability Indexes

This study examined postural control during single leg stance test with progressively increased balance-task difficulty in soccer players with unilateral transfemoral amputation (n = 11) compared to able-bodied soccer players (n = 11). The overall stability index (OSI), the anterior/posterior stability index, and the medial/lateral stability index during three balance tasks with increasing surface instability were estimated. The oculomotor and visuomotor contribution to postural control in disabled athletes was analyzed. Oculomotor function, simple and choice reaction times, and peripheral perception were assessed in a series of visuomotor tests. The variation in OSI demonstrated significantly greater increases during postural tests with increased balance-task difficulty in the able-bodied soccer players compared to amputees (F(2,40) = 3.336, p < 0.05). Ocular mobility index correlated (p < 0.05) with OSI in conditions of increasing balance-task difficulty. Moreover, speed of eye-foot reaction has positive influence (p < 0.05) on stability indexes in tasks with an unstable surface. Amputee soccer players displayed comparable postural stability to able-bodied soccer players. Disabled athletes had better adaptability in restoring a state of balance in conditions of increased balance-task difficulty than the controls. The speed of visuomotor processing, characterized mainly by speed of eye-foot reaction, significantly contributed to these results.

scholarly journals STUDY OF NORMAL VALUES OF PROPRIOCEPTION BASED ON AGE

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4_suppl3) ◽  
pp. 2325967120S0023
Author(s):  
Marie-Lyne Nault ◽  
Olivier Chémaly ◽  
Guy Grimard ◽  
Mélanie Sarda ◽  
Marie-Pier Trottier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Postural Control ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Normal Values ◽  
Pediatric Population ◽  
Stability Index ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Return To Sports ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Stability Indexes ◽  
The Stability

Background: Proprioception is an important function which allows the brain to perceive the body’s position. It is a safety mechanism aiding the generation of movements to correct and maintain balance. During a return to sports for adults, it is essential to have a good postural control. However, this requirement is applied subjectively in a pediatric setting. The Biodex Stability System (BSS) is a validated instrument capable of evaluating proprioception by producing stability indexes. Unfortunately, the stability indexes for a healthy pediatric population and the associated characteristics have not yet been determined. Purpose: The primary objective was to establish normal pediatric values of proprioception using the BSS. The secondary objectives were to find correlations between various subgroups (sex, physical activity participation and joint laxity, etc) and the stability indexes. Methods: An observational cohort study was done. Patients from July 2018 to September 2018 were included from the facture clinic. Inclusion/exclusion criteria were: (1) a consolidated upper limb fracture, (2) no previous history of lower limb injury, (3) no congenital anomalies of the lower limb or neuromuscular disease. Included subjects underwent 3 test trials of 20 seconds each of single-leg shoeless postural control with eyes open and at a stability level of 4. The overall stability index (OSI), anteroposterior stability index (APSI) and mediolateral stability index (MLSI) were noted. The protocol was conducted on both legs. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test will be used for the primary objective and, Pearson correlation for secondary objective. Results: Seventy-one participants (29 girls and 42 boys) with a mean age of 12.75±2.2 years old and a mean Beighton laxity score of 2.5±2.5 were recruited. The mean left OSI is 4.4±3.1 and the mean right OSI is 4.5±3.3. When comparing the subgroups, we were able to find correlations between the body mass index (BMI) and the OSI for both legs (left: r= 0.312, p = 0.008; right: r= 0.437, p = 0.001). We did not find any other correlations for any other groups (sex, age and Beighton score). Conclusion: A larger sample size will be needed to establish normal values based on sex and skeletal maturity but a mean value for OSI for a normal pediatric population was established. This study illustrates that, in our pediatric population, an increase in BMI is associated with an increase in OSI. Therefore, children with a higher BMI could potentially benefit from a proprioception training program in order to prevent the occurrence of injuries.

Skipping Breakfast Affects the Early Steps of Cognitive Processing

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-118
Author(s):  
Andrés Antonio González-Garrido ◽  
Jacobo José Brofman-Epelbaum ◽  
Fabiola Reveca Gómez-Velázquez ◽  
Sebastián Agustín Balart-Sánchez ◽  
Julieta Ramos-Loyo
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Task Difficulty ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Brain Potentials ◽  
Brain Functioning ◽  
Attentional Processes ◽  
Electrical Brain Activity ◽  
Skipping Breakfast

Abstract. It has been generally accepted that skipping breakfast adversely affects cognition, mainly disturbing the attentional processes. However, the effects of short-term fasting upon brain functioning are still unclear. We aimed to evaluate the effect of skipping breakfast on cognitive processing by studying the electrical brain activity of young healthy individuals while performing several working memory tasks. Accordingly, the behavioral results and event-related brain potentials (ERPs) of 20 healthy university students (10 males) were obtained and compared through analysis of variances (ANOVAs), during the performance of three n-back working memory (WM) tasks in two morning sessions on both normal (after breakfast) and 12-hour fasting conditions. Significantly fewer correct responses were achieved during fasting, mainly affecting the higher WM load task. In addition, there were prolonged reaction times with increased task difficulty, regardless of breakfast intake. ERP showed a significant voltage decrement for N200 and P300 during fasting, while the amplitude of P200 notably increased. The results suggest skipping breakfast disturbs earlier cognitive processing steps, particularly attention allocation, early decoding in working memory, and stimulus evaluation, and this effect increases with task difficulty.

“Going Backward”: Effects of age and fatigue on posterior-directed falls in Parkinson disease

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Evan V. Papa ◽  
Rita M. Patterson ◽  
Nicoleta Bugnariu
Keyword(s):  
Postural Control ◽  
Parkinson Disease ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Angular Displacement ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Peak Knee ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Fatiguing Exercise

BACKGROUND: Nearly half of persons with Parkinson disease (PD) report fatigue as a factor in their fall history. However, it is unknown whether these self-reported falls are caused by a sensation of fatigue or performance fatigue. OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate the influences of performance fatigue and age on postural control in persons with PD. METHODS: Individuals with PD (n = 14) underwent postural control assessments before (T0) and immediately after (T1) fatiguing exercise. Biomechanical data were gathered on participants completing a treadmill-induced, posterior-directed fall. Performance fatigue was produced using lower extremity resistance exercise on an isokinetic ergometer. Repeated measures ANCOVAs were used with age as a covariate to determine the effects of performance fatigue on biomechanical variables. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, there was a statistically significant difference in peak center of pressure (COP) latency during the support phase of recovery. Pairwise comparisons demonstrated a decrease in peak ankle displacement from T0 to T1. Age was also found to be significantly related to reaction time and peak knee displacement while participants were fatigued. CONCLUSIONS: The decreased peak COP latency, along with decreased ankle angular displacement, suggest that persons with PD adopt a stiffening strategy in response to backward directed falls. Postural stiffening is not uncommon in persons with PD and could be a risk factor for falls. Older individuals with PD demonstrate slower mobility scores and decreased reaction times in the setting of fatigue, suggesting a combined effect of the aging and fatigue processes.

scholarly journals Are you Watching Me? Interacting Effects of Fear of Negative Evaluation and Social Context on Cognitive Performance

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 303-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin L. Maresh ◽  
Bethany A. Teachman ◽  
James A. Coan
Keyword(s):  
Social Context ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Task Difficulty ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Negative Evaluation ◽  
Fear Of Negative Evaluation ◽  
Socially Anxious ◽  
Improved Accuracy

Socially anxious individuals exhibit cognitive performance impairments; it is unclear whether this is due to trait differences in abilities or effects of the experimental context. This study sought to determine how social context, individual differences in fear of negative evaluation (FNE), and task difficulty interact to influence working memory performance as indicated by effectiveness (accuracy) and efficiency (reaction times). Participants (N = 61) performed the n-back task at 2-back and 3-back difficulty levels under three conditions: alone (“Anonymous”), in presence of a non-evaluative experimenter (“Presence”), and under explicit performance evaluation by the experimenter (“Threat”). Overall, participants showed improved accuracy during Threat, but only on 2-back trials. FNE was positively associated with longer reaction times during Threat on 3-back trials. FNE did not relate to accuracy, suggesting that threat-related impairments tied to social anxiety may alter efficiency rather than effectiveness. Thus, social anxiety may elicit cognitive performance impairments even in minimally evaluative environments.

scholarly journals Is standing postural control more impaired in young patients with hip-disarticulation than transfemoral amputation? A pilot study

2015 ◽  
Vol 58 (6) ◽  
pp. 354-356
Author(s):  
Bastien Moineau ◽  
Matthieu P. Boisgontier ◽  
Elodie Gailledrat ◽  
Marie-Pierre De Angelis ◽  
Isabelle Olivier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Postural Control ◽  
Young Patients ◽  
Transfemoral Amputation

Aquatic physiotherapy for vestibular rehabilitation in patients with unilateral vestibular hypofunction: Exploratory prospective study

2008 ◽  
Vol 18 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 139-146
Author(s):  
Yeda P.L. Gabilan ◽  
Mônica R. Perracini ◽  
Mario S.L. Munhoz ◽  
Fernando F. Gananç
Keyword(s):  
Symptom Onset ◽  
Stability Index ◽  
Vestibular Rehabilitation ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Self Perception ◽  
Vestibular Loss ◽  
Tertiary Referral Center ◽  
Vestibular Hypofunction ◽  
Computerized Posturography ◽  
Stability Indexes

Purpose: To explore the effects of aquatic physiotherapy on individuals with unilateral vestibular hypofunction and examine the association of therapeutic effects with age, time since symptom onset and use of antivertigo medication. Study design: Exploratory study. Setting: Tertiary referral center. Patients: Twenty-one patients presenting chronic dizziness with uncompensated unilateral vestibular loss. Intervention: All patients underwent a regimen of 10 sessions of aquatic physiotherapy for vestibular rehabilitation. Main outcome measures: Patient evaluation prior to and following rehabilitation involved the application of the Brazilian version of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), dynamic computerized posturography and the self-perception scale of dizziness intensity. Statistical analysis compared average variables prior to and following rehabilitation using the Student t test. Results: Brazilian DHI total scores were lower following rehabilitation (p = 0.001). Posturography revealed a reduction in the variation of body displacement following rehabilitation in the average stability and anterior/posterior stability indexes (p = 0.001) and in the average medial/lateral stability index (p = 0.003). Self-perception of dizziness intensity was lower following rehabilitation (p = 0.001). No association between age, time since symptom onset and use of antivertigo medication and rehabilitation therapeutic effects were found. Conclusion: Unilateral vestibular hypofunction patients undergoing aquatic physiotherapy for vestibular rehabilitation achieved an improvement in quality of life, body balance and self-perception of dizziness intensity, regardless of age, time since symptom onset, and use of antivertigo medication.

scholarly journals Effects of balance training on balance performance in youth: role of training difficulty

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Schedler ◽  
Florian Tenelsen ◽  
Laura Wich ◽  
Thomas Muehlbauer
Keyword(s):  
Task Difficulty ◽  
Balance Training ◽  
Gait Velocity ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Timed Up And Go ◽  
Balance Test ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Time Dynamic ◽  
Balance Task ◽  
Functional Reach Test

Abstract Background Cross-sectional studies have shown that balance performance can be challenged by the level of task difficulty (e.g., varying stance conditions, sensory manipulations). However, it remains unclear whether the application of different levels of task difficulty during balance training (BT) leads to altered adaptations in balance performance. Thus, we examined the effects of BT conducted under a high versus a low level of task difficulty on balance performance. Methods Forty male adolescents were randomly assigned to a BT program using a low (BT-low: n = 20; age: 12.4 ± 2.0 yrs) or a high (BT-high: n = 20; age: 12.5 ± 2.5 yrs) level of balance task difficulty. Both groups trained for 7 weeks (2 sessions/week, 30–35 min each). Pre- and post-training assessments included measures of static (one-legged stance [OLS] time), dynamic (10-m gait velocity), and proactive (Y-Balance Test [YBT] reach distance, Functional Reach Test [FRT]; Timed-Up-and-Go Test [TUG]) balance. Results Significant main effects of Test (i.e., pre- to post-test improvements) were observed for all but one balance measure (i.e., 10-m gait velocity). Additionally, a Test x Group interaction was detected for the FRT in favor of the BT-high group (Δ + 8%, p < 0.001, d = 0.35). Further, tendencies toward significant Test x Group interactions were found for the YBT anterior reach (in favor of BT-high: Δ + 9%, p < 0.001, d = 0.60) and for the OLS with eyes opened and on firm surface (in favor of BT-low: Δ + 31%, p = 0.003, d = 0.67). Conclusions Following 7 weeks of BT, enhancements in measures of static, dynamic, and proactive balance were observed in the BT-high and BT-low groups. However, BT-high appears to be more effective for increasing measures of proactive balance, whereas BT-low seems to be more effective for improving proxies of static balance. Trial registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN83638708 (Retrospectively registered 19th June, 2020).

scholarly journals WITHDRAWN: Cold water immersion effects on doms, muscle recruitment, dynamic postural control and sleep quality in soccer players: A randomized and blinded study

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. e4
Author(s):  
Fernanda Bortolo Pesenti ◽  
Rubens Alexandre da Silva ◽  
Leticia Alves da Silva ◽  
Ariobaldo Frisseli ◽  
Christiane de Souza Guerino Macedo
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Postural Control ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Water Immersion ◽  
Cold Water Immersion ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Muscle Recruitment ◽  
Blinded Study

scholarly journals Effects of Slackline Training on Acceleration, Agility, Jump Performance and Postural Control in Youth Soccer Players

2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 235-245
Author(s):  
Javier Fernández-Rio ◽  
Luis Santos ◽  
Benjamín Fernández-García ◽  
Roberto Robles ◽  
Iván Casquero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Postural Control ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Perceived Exertion ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Training Session ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Countermovement Jump ◽  
Jump Performance ◽  
Squat Jump

AbstractThe goal of this study was to assess the effects of a supervised slackline training program in a group of soccer players. Thirty-four male division I under-19 players (16.64 ± 0.81 years) agreed to participate in the study. They were randomly divided into an experimental group (EG) and a control group (CG). The first group (EG) followed a 6-week supervised slackline training program (3 sessions/week; 5-9 min/session), while the CG performed only regular soccer training. Several variables were assessed in all participants: acceleration (20-m sprint test), agility (90º turns test), jump performance (squat jump, countermovement jump), and postural control (Center of Pressure ( CoP) testing: length, area, speed, Xmean, Ymean, Xspeed, Yspeed, Xdeviation, Ydeviation). Ratings of perceived exertion and local muscle ratings of perceived exertions were also recorded after each slackline training session. At post-tests, there was a significant increase only in the EG in acceleration, agility, squat jump and countermovement jump performance, as well as several CoP variables: area in the bipedal support on a firm surface, and length, area and speed in the left leg on a firm surface. The program was rated as “somewhat hard” by the players, while quadriceps, gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior were the most exerted muscles while slacklining. In conclusion, slackline training can be an effective training tool for young, high-level soccer players.

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