Biomechanical and neurophysiological mechanisms related to postural control and efficiency of movement: a review (original) (raw)

Postural Control Mechanisms in Healthy Adults in Sitting and Standing Positions 1

Perceptual and Motor Skills, 2015

This study explored differences in the center of pressure in healthy people in a sitting and standing position and with eyes open and closed. With this purpose, 32 healthy participants (16 men, 16 women; M age = 25.2 yr., SD = 10.0, range = 18–55) were measured with an extensiometric force plate. Using a two–way repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), the root mean square, velocity, range, and sway, in both visual conditions, had higher values in the standing task than in the sitting task. In the frequency domain, the low-frequency band had higher values during the standing task. For control mechanism variables, mean distance and time were greater when standing while mean peaks were greater when sitting. Thus, stability is worse in the standing position and more neuromuscular activity is required to maintain balance.

A Critical Review of Position- and Velocity-Based Concepts of Postural Control During Upright Stance

Human Movement

Purpose. Postural control during quiet standing has been modeled by concepts using kinematic variables estimated from center of pressure (COP) signals. The concept of position-based postural control has had particular ramifications in the literature, although a more recent concept of velocity-based control has been proposed as being more relevant. Methods. This study reviews the literature investigating these concepts and their respective quantitative methods alongside current supporting evidence and criticisms. Results. The position-based control concept suggests the existence of two control loops that alternate whenever certain thresholds are exceeded. Such a theory is supported by studies describing the time delay between the skeletal muscle activation and CoP displacement. However, this concept has been criticized to be the result of statistical artifacts due to it not being adapted to the analysis of bounded time series. Conversely, the velocity-based control concept claims tha...