You are viewing a javascript disabled version of the site. Please enable Javascript for this site to function properly.
Go to headerGo to navigationGo to searchGo to contentsGo to footer
In content section. Select this link to jump to navigation

Feet distance and static postural balance: Implication on the role of natural stance

Issue title: Frontiers in Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology – Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology, 25–28 September 2014, Beijing, China

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Kim, Ji-Won | Kwon, Yuri | Jeon, Hyung-Min | Bang, Min-Jung | Jun, Jae-Hoon; | Eom, Gwang-Moon; ; | Lim, Do-Hyung

Affiliations: The School of Biomedical Engineering, Konkuk University, Chungnju, 380-701, Korea | Research Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Konkuk University, Chungnju, 380-701, Korea | Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sejong University, Seoul, 143-747, Korea

Note: [] Corresponding author: Gwang-Moon Eom, The School of Biomedical Engineering, Konkuk University, Chungnju, 380-701, Korea. Tel.: +82-43-840-3766; Fax: +82-43-851-0620; E-mail: [email protected].

Keywords: Stance width, postural stability, preferred stance, center of pressure, ground reaction force

DOI: 10.3233/BME-141085

Journal: Bio-Medical Materials and Engineering, vol. 24, no. 6, pp. 2681-2688, 2014

Published: 2014
Get PDF open access

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate 1) the effect of feet distance on static postural balance and 2) the location of natural feet distance and its possible role in the relationship of feet distance and postural balance. Static balance tests were performed on a force platform for 100 s with six different feet distances (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 cm). Measures of postural balance included mean amplitude of horizontal ground reaction force (GRF) as well as the mean distance and velocity of the center of pressure (COP). All measures were discomposed into anterioposterior and mediolateral directions. ANOVA and post-hoc comparison were performed for all measures with feet distance as an independent factor. Also measured was the feet distance at the natural stance preferred by each subject. All measures significantly varied with feet distance (p<0.001). Mean distance of COP showed monotonic decrease with feet distance. Mean amplitude of horizontal GRF as well as mean velocity of COP showed U-shaped pattern (decrease followed by increase) with the minimum at the feet distance of 15cm or 20 cm, near which the natural feet distance of 16.5 (SD 3.8) cm was located. COP is regarded to be an approximation of the center of mass (hence the resultant performance of postural control) in an inverted pendulum model with the horizontal GRF ignored. On the other hand, horizontal GRF is the direct cause of horizontal acceleration of a center of mass. The present result on horizontal GRF shows that the effort of postural control is minimized around the feet distance of natural standing and implies why the natural stance is preferred.

Show more