Abstract
BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of dance in the experienced older dancers compared to the inexperienced older adults. We explored the effect of dance on the composition of muscle groups and multi-muscle synergies stabilizing the center of pressure (COP) displacement in preparation to take a step during support surface translation.MethodsEight dance experienced elderly participants were asked to take a step in response to support surface perturbations. Uncontrolled manifold analysis was used to identify muscle modes (M-modes) as factors in the muscle activation space. Variance components in the M-mode space and indices of M-mode synergy stabilizing COP displacement were computed.ResultsThe reciprocal M-modes were observed more frequently in the dance group than in the control group prior to the step initiation. Dance led to higher indices of multi-muscle synergies and earlier anticipatory synergy adjustments during preparation for making a step in response to the support surface translations.ConclusionsDance appeared to be associated with adjustments in both the composition of M-modes and M-mode co-variation patterns resulting in stronger synergies stabilizing COP coordinate in older adults. The results reported here could have clinical relevance when offering a dance approach to balance training for impaired individuals.
Highlights
The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of dance in the experienced older dancers compared to the inexperienced older adults
Here we show 5-years of dance in older adults is associated with changes in multi-muscle postural synergies stabilizing the center of pressure (COP) displacement during the preparation for making a step associated with support surface translations
We investigated dance induced changes in the synergy index (ΔVZ), computed as the normalized difference between VUCM and VORT based on the uncontrolled manifold hypothesis: VUCM that had no effect on the COP coordinate and VORT that affected the COP coordinate
Summary
The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of dance in the experienced older dancers compared to the inexperienced older adults. Effective maintenance of vertical posture in making a step requires complex control of a moving center of pressure (COP). This task represents a challenge to the postural control system due to a sequence of muscle activations and associated changes in the ground reaction forces serve to unload the stepping leg and propel the body center of mass forward before stepping [1, 2]. The central nervous system (CNS) performs anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) and anticipatory synergy adjustments (ASAs) in the activation patterns of postural muscles before an action or perturbation initiation [8]. ASAs attenuate pre-existent synergies in preparation for action in a salient performance variable
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