scholarly journals Effect of Balance Training on Postural Analysis of Patients suffering from Balance Disorders: A Preliminary Report

2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 170-174
Author(s):  
Swapnil Bari ◽  
Kashif Sherwani ◽  
Neelesh Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Postural Stability ◽  
Preliminary Report ◽  
Balance Training ◽  
The Body ◽  
Centre Of Pressure ◽  
Foot Pressure ◽  
Balance Disorders ◽  
Quantitative Score ◽  
Postural Analysis ◽  
Postural Performance

ABSTRACT Introduction Postural stability assessment is an important task that has found widespread medical and therapeutic applications. Typically, balance measurement systems are used for this purpose. The quantitative score of postural balance is very important in determining improvement of the patients suffering from balance disorder. Postural stability of humans is highly dependent on the position of centre of pressure of the body. The analysis of sway of a human body can be successfully done by studying oscillations of its centre of pressure. The distribution of foot pressure over different regions namely medial—lateral and anterior— posterior, governs the balance of the posture in both directions. Objective The aim of this study is to assess quantitative changes in the postural stability of patients suffering from balance disorders after providing them biofeedback based balance training. Materials and methods We used Force Sensing Resistors (FSRs) to sense the magnitude of forces acting at various points of both the feet. The centre of pressure is determined using the positions of various force points and magnitude of the force acting on them. The higher capability of the body to remain at that position implies higher postural stability and a lower power of sway. The force sensors produce signal proportional to the magnitude of the foot pressure. This signal after being collected by the Data Acquisition Board is fed to the system for calculating the centre of pressure and drawing a real time graph. Different algorithms are used to determine its mean position and compare the stability. The repeated analysis shows the amount of change in patient's postural behaviour, before and after the training. Results Until the publication of this research work, analysis of the data of 4 patients was performed. Post intervention trials resulted in higher scores of their postural performance. Hence, favourable results were obtained showing improvement in postural stability of the patients. Conclusion Wider variety of ataxia patients can be chosen to perform this assessment. The system is capable of determining a quantitative score of improvement of the postural stability and thus can be used to assess the postural performance of patients suffering from different postural disorders. How to cite this article Bari S, Saxena S, Sherwani K, Kumar N, Dhillon MS. Effect of Balance Training on Postural Analysis of Patients suffering from Balance Disorders: A Preliminary Report. J Postgrad Med Edu Res 2017;51(4):170-174.

scholarly journals Improving postural stability among people with lower-limb amputations by tactile sensory substitution

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lijun Chen ◽  
Yanggang Feng ◽  
Baojun Chen ◽  
Qining Wang ◽  
Kunlin Wei
Keyword(s):  
Postural Control ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Postural Stability ◽  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
Interaction Force ◽  
The Body ◽  
Sensory Substitution ◽  
Foot Pressure ◽  
Vibration Intensity ◽  
Visual Disturbances

Abstract Background For people with lower-limb amputations, wearing a prosthetic limb helps restore their motor abilities for daily activities. However, the prosthesis's potential benefits are hindered by limited somatosensory feedback from the affected limb and its prosthesis. Previous studies have examined various sensory substitution systems to alleviate this problem; the prominent approach is to convert foot–ground interaction to tactile stimulations. However, positive outcomes for improving their postural stability are still rare. We hypothesized that the sensory substiution system based on surrogated tactile stimulus is capable of improving the standing stability among people with lower-limb amputations. Methods We designed a wearable device consisting of four pressure sensors and two vibrators and tested it among people with unilateral transtibial amputations (n = 7) and non-disabled participants (n = 8). The real-time measurements of foot pressure were fused into a single representation of foot–ground interaction force, which was encoded by varying vibration intensity of the two vibrators attached to the participants’ forearm. The vibration intensity followed a logarithmic function of the force representation, in keeping with principles of tactile psychophysics. The participants were tested with a classical postural stability task in which visual disturbances perturbed their quiet standing. Results With a brief familiarization of the system, the participants exhibited better postural stability against visual disturbances when switching on sensory substitution than without. The body sway was substantially reduced, as shown in head movements and excursions of the center of pressure. The improvement was present for both groups of participants and was particularly pronounced in more challenging conditions with larger visual disturbances. Conclusions Substituting otherwise missing foot pressure feedback with vibrotactile signals can improve postural stability for people with lower-limb amputations. The design of the mapping between the foot–ground interaction force and the tactile signals is essential for the user to utilize the surrogated tactile signals for postural control, especially for situations that their postural control is challenged.

scholarly journals Prevalence of floating toe and its relationship with static postural stability in children: The Yamanashi adjunct study of the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS-Y)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taro Fujimaki ◽  
Masanori Wako ◽  
Kensuke Koyama ◽  
Naoto Furuya ◽  
Ryoji Shinohara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Postural Stability ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
The Body ◽  
Ground Contact ◽  
Foot Pressure ◽  
Eyes Closed ◽  
Stability Measurement ◽  
Eyes Open ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Very High

AbstractFloating toe (FT) is a frequently seen condition in which a toe is inadequately in contact with the ground. Although toes play an important role in stabilizing standing posture and walking, many aspects of the effects of FT on the body remain unclear. To our knowledge, there have been no reports about the relationship between FT and postural stability, especially in children. This study aimed to clarify the prevalence of FT and its relationship with static postural stability in children. Of the 400 children aged 8 years who participated in our cohort study, 396, who were examined for static postural stability, were included in this study. Postural stability and FT were assessed using a foot pressure plate. The sway path length of the center of pressure and the area of the ellipse defined as the size of the area marked by the center of pressure were measured as an evaluation of static postural stability. We calculated the “floating toe score (FT score: small FT score indicates insufficient ground contact of the toes)” using the image of the plantar footprint obtained at the postural stability measurement. The FT rate was very high at more than 90%, and the FT score in the eyes-closed condition was significantly higher than that in the eyes-open condition in both sexes. The FT score significantly correlated with the center of pressure path and area. Our results suggest that ground contact of the toes is not directly related to static postural stability in children, but it may function to stabilize the body when the condition becomes unstable, such as when the eyes are closed.

scholarly journals Prevalence of floating toe and its relationship with static postural stability in children: The Yamanashi adjunct study of the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS-Y)

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e0246010
Author(s):  
Taro Fujimaki ◽  
Masanori Wako ◽  
Kensuke Koyama ◽  
Naoto Furuya ◽  
Ryoji Shinohara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Postural Stability ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
The Body ◽  
Ground Contact ◽  
Standing Posture ◽  
Foot Pressure ◽  
Eyes Closed ◽  
Stability Measurement ◽  
Eyes Open ◽  
The Relationship

Floating toe (FT) is a frequently seen condition in which a toe is inadequately in contact with the ground. Although toes play an important role in stabilizing standing posture and walking, many aspects of the effects of FT on the body remain unclear. To our knowledge, there have been no reports about the relationship between FT and postural stability, especially in children. This study aimed to clarify the prevalence of FT and its relationship with static postural stability in children. Of the 400 children aged 8 years who participated in our cohort study, 396, who were examined for static postural stability, were included in this study. Postural stability and FT were assessed using a foot pressure plate. The sway path length of the center of pressure and the area of the ellipse defined as the size of the area marked by the center of pressure, were measured as an evaluation of static postural stability. We calculated the “floating toe score (FT score: small FT score indicates insufficient ground contact of the toes)” using the image of the plantar footprint obtained at the postural stability measurement. The rate of FT was elevated at more than 90%, and the FT score in the eyes-closed condition was significantly higher than that in the eyes-open condition in both sexes. The FT score significantly correlated with the center of pressure path and area. Our results suggest that ground contact of the toes is not directly related to static postural stability in children, but it may function to stabilize the body when the condition becomes unstable, such as when the eyes are closed.

An Early Burial from Gordon Creek, Colorado

1971 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Breternitz ◽  
Alan C. Swedlund ◽  
Duane C. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Annual Meeting ◽  
Preliminary Report ◽  
Skeletal Remains ◽  
The Body ◽  
National Forest ◽  
Bone Material ◽  
The North ◽  
Northern Colorado ◽  
Early Human

AbstractAn isolated burial was excavated from the bank of a tributary of Gordon Creek, Roosevelt National Forest, northern Colorado. A preliminary report was prepared (D. Anderson 1966, 1967) but further analysis of the skeletal material and newly obtained cultural information add significantly to the documentation of the burial.The body of a woman, aged 25-30 years, was given primary interment in a pit coated with red ocher. The body was placed on its left side with the head to the north, was tightly flexed, and was also coated with red ocher. Burial accompaniments include a large precussion flaked biface or preform, a small biface used as a scraping tool, a hammerstone, an end scraper, a preform with fire pocks, cut and incised animal ribs, and a perforated elk incisor. A radiocarbon assay of bone material from the left ilium produced an age of 9700± 250 radiocarbon years: 7750 B.C. (GX-0530).No indications of habitation which might be associated with the burial were located in its immediate vicinity.A reconstruction of the burial ritual is attempted, and the skeletal remains are compared to other early human remains from North America.A summary of this paper was given at the 34th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, May 3, 1969, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Does Xbox 360 Kinect training improve postural balance in young healthy adults? A preliminary study. (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Grabowicz ◽  
Anna Daniluk ◽  
Anna Hadamus ◽  
Dariusz Białoszewski
Keyword(s):  
Postural Balance ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Balance Training ◽  
The Body ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Unstable Surface ◽  
Baseline Group ◽  
Before And After ◽  
P Balance

BACKGROUND Balance training in young adults may increase coordination, cognitive function or the symmetry of strength on both sides of the body. It is an essential tool for injury or fall prevention and a precondition for becoming a professional athlete. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Xbox 360 Kinect training on postural balance in young, healthy individuals. METHODS The study enrolled 75 individuals who were randomly assigned to three equal groups. The first group (Group VR) performed exercises on an Xbox 360 Kinect console, and the second group (Group T) performed conventional all-round exercises. The third group was a control group (Group C). Each group underwent balance assessments on the Biodex Balance posturographic platform, including the Balance Error Scoring System test, before and after the training cycle. The level of statistical significance was set at P<.05. RESULTS Group VR and Group T achieved statistically significant improvements in the sway index compared with baseline. Group T gained significant decrease in the sway index on the unstable surface (P=.002). Group VR and group T demonstrated significant decreases in the mean sway index on stable and unstable surfaces (group VR — P=.035; group T — P=.001) Group C did not achieve a statistically significant improvement in the sway index. None of the groups demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in the test error count. CONCLUSIONS Virtual reality in the form of video games played on an Xbox 360 Kinect console may be an effective method of balance training in healthy individuals.

Assessment of postural stability using the Zebris Platform in women above the age of 60

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (92) ◽  
pp. 13-18
Author(s):  
Janusz Jaworski ◽  
Ewelina Kołodziej
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Postural Stability ◽  
Balance Control ◽  
Regular Physical Activity ◽  
Foot Pressure ◽  
Stability Parameters ◽  
Younger Women ◽  
Centre Of Foot Pressure ◽  
Ellipse Area

Introduction. Balance control and body posture stability disorders progressing with age are caused by the involutionary changes in the function of the motor and nervous systems. However, it is indicated that regular physical activity, also in older adulthood, may have a positive effect on maintaining the functions of individual systems at an optimal level. Study aim: The aim of the study was to assess the postural stability of women above the age of 60 who declare active lifestyles. Material and Methods. The research involved 24 women, who were arbitrarily divided into 3 groups according to their calendar age. The younger group consisted of 14 women below the age of 70 years ( x _ = 65.08; SD = 2.82), whereas the older group comprised 10 older adults, above the age of 70 ( x _ = 73.62; SD = 2.74). The scope of the study included evaluation of selected postural stability parameters: 95% of the ellipse area covered by the moving COP, statokinesiogram path length, mean speed regarding displacement of the centre of foot pressure, total left and total right foot pressure. The examinations were performed in June 2018 using the Zerbis FDM-S dynamographic platform. The research material collected in this way was subjected to statistical analysis. Basic descriptive statistics were calculated and normality of the distribution of variables was verified using the Shapiro- Wilk test. The Student’s t-test for independent variables or Mann-Whitney’s U-test (depending on the distribution) were used to determine the significance of differences concerning the analysed parameters of postural stability between the groups studied. Furthermore, for 95% of the ellipse area covered by the moving COP, statokinesiogram path and mean speed of the displacement of the centre of foot pressure and standardised profiles were calculated for both chronological age groups. Standardisation of the results was performed using means and standard deviations of the entire material (T scale). Results. The results of the study indicate a higher level of postural stability among women from the younger group. However, comparative analysis did not reveal any statistically significant intergroup differences. Mean point scores on the T scale in the group of younger women for the 3 variables ranged from 50.98 to 51.60 points, whereas for older women, this was from 48.90 to 48.98 points. The differences between characteristics in the group of younger women totalled ca. 0.62 points, while in the older group, this value was 0.08 points. Conclusions. comparative analysis allowed to show that postural stability indices in women above 70 decreased compared to the results obtained for the younger group. Regular physical activity may be one of the significant factors in the prevention of postural stability regression.

scholarly journals Foot pressure distributions during walking in African elephants ( Loxodonta africana )

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (10) ◽  
pp. 160203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga Panagiotopoulou ◽  
Todd C. Pataky ◽  
Madeleine Day ◽  
Michael C. Hensman ◽  
Sean Hensman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Body ◽  
Loxodonta Africana ◽  
Centre Of Pressure ◽  
Mass Peak ◽  
Foot Care ◽  
African Elephants ◽  
Foot Pressure ◽  
Pressure Distributions ◽  
Foot Morphology ◽  
Peak Pressures

Elephants, the largest living land mammals, have evolved a specialized foot morphology to help reduce locomotor pressures while supporting their large body mass. Peak pressures that could cause tissue damage are mitigated passively by the anatomy of elephants' feet, yet this mechanism does not seem to work well for some captive animals. This study tests how foot pressures vary among African and Asian elephants from habitats where natural substrates predominate but where foot care protocols differ. Variations in pressure patterns might be related to differences in husbandry, including but not limited to trimming and the substrates that elephants typically stand and move on. Both species' samples exhibited the highest concentration of peak pressures on the lateral digits of their feet (which tend to develop more disease in elephants) and lower pressures around the heel. The trajectories of the foot's centre of pressure were also similar, confirming that when walking at similar speeds, both species load their feet laterally at impact and then shift their weight medially throughout the step until toe-off. Overall, we found evidence of variations in foot pressure patterns that might be attributable to husbandry and other causes, deserving further examination using broader, more comparable samples.

Modification of postural responses and step initiation: evidence for goal-directed postural interactions

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (6) ◽  
pp. 2892-2902 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. L. Burleigh ◽  
F. B. Horak ◽  
F. Malouin
Keyword(s):  
External Perturbation ◽  
Anticipatory Postural Adjustments ◽  
The Body ◽  
Original Position ◽  
Foot Pressure ◽  
Postural Adjustments ◽  
Step Initiation ◽  
Postural Responses ◽  
Surface Translation ◽  
Automatic Postural Responses

1. In this study, the interaction between anticipatory postural adjustments for step initiation and automatic postural responses to an external perturbation were investigated by having subjects initiate a voluntary forward step while perturbed by a backward surface translation, which caused forward sway of the body. The postural adjustments for step initiation act to move the body center of mass (COM) forward, whereas the automatic postural responses act to move the COM backward to restore stance equilibrium. Because the postural behaviors are in opposition, we asked whether a temporal hierarchy exists in which automatic postural responses are executed to restore equilibrium and followed by stereotypic postural adjustments for step initiation, or whether the interaction between these two postural behaviors is more dynamic. 2. Lower extremity electromyographs (EMGs), ground reaction forces, and kinematics were recorded from 10 subjects during three conditions: to quantify the anticipatory postural adjustments for step initiation, subjects stepped forward as soon as they felt a proprioceptive cue; to quantify the automatic postural responses to perturbation, subjects maintained stance equilibrium in response to a backward surface translation under both feet; and to quantify the interaction between the postural adjustments for the voluntary step and the automatic responses to the perturbation, subjects were exposed to a backward surface translation and instructed to step forward as soon as they felt the platform begin to move. 3. The anticipatory adjustments for step initiation included tibialis activation [stance limb = 163 +/- 28 (SE) ms; swing limb = 173 +/- 33 ms] and soleus inhibition resulting in center of foot pressure (COP) moving backward and lateral toward the swing limb to propel the COM forward over the stance limb. Subsequently, activation of the swing limb gastrocnemius resulted in heel-off. In contrast, the automatic postural adjustments for maintenance of stance equilibrium during a backward surface translation included activation of soleus and gastrocnemius (104 +/- 23 ms and 115 +/- 14 ms, respectively) resulting in a symmetrical forward displacement of the COP that moved the COM back to its original position with respect to the feet. 4. When a forward step was initiated in response to the translation, the automatic postural responses were reduced in amplitude bilaterally in soleus and in the stance limb gastrocnemius. When present the postural response occurred at the same latency when the goal was to initiate a step as when the goal was to maintain standing.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

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