Abstract
BackgroundPostural balance is vital for safely carrying out many daily activities, such as locomotion. The purpose of this study was to determine how changes in normal standing (NS) and standing with toe-extension (SWT) impact postural control during quiet standing. Furthermore, the research aimed to examine the extent to which the effect of these factors differed between genders.Methodology/Principal FindingsThirty healthy young adults (age = 21.2±1.3 y; height = 1.63±0.07 m; mass = 56.0±9.3 kg) with no prior lower limb injuries participated in the study. A postural stability test using the Biodex Balance System was used for both NS and SWT conditions. The three measurements from the BBS were Overall Stability Index (OSI), Medial-Lateral Stability Index (MLSI) and Anterior-Posterior Stability Index (APSI). No significant difference was found between NS and SWT in the OSI, MLSI or APSI (F 2, 28 = 3.357, p = 0.077). The main difference between the stability index scores was significant (F 2, 28 = 275.1, p<0.001). The Bonferroni post-hoc test showed significant differences between the OSI and MLSI (p<0.001); the OSI and APSI (p<0.001); and the MLSI and the APSI (p<0.001). Significant differences were found during NS (p<0.001), for the MLSI when compared with the APSI, but this was not found during the SWT condition. Additionally, no gender effects were proven to exist that altered postural sway during quiet standing.Conclusions/SignificanceThis study reveals significant interaction between the stability indices measured; OSI, APSI and MLSI in both NS and SWT. Standing with toe extended does not have a significant impact on an individual’s ability to control their balance during normal quiet standing. However, the findings revealed that the sway tendency in the medial-lateral direction might serve as a factor in an individual’s ability to regain balance.
Highlights
Since balance is a vital prerequisite component of life for all human beings, balance control has been examined extensively in a number of studies
Researchers agree that the human body will attempt to orientate the center of mass (CoM), which is a virtual point that is equivalent to the total body mass at which the average of mass distribution for each body segment may be assumed to be concentrated, against perturbation [4]
The base of support is the displacement region for the center of pressure (CoP), since the CoP serves as the location point of the average distribution for all the pressure over the ground surface contact area [5]
Summary
Since balance is a vital prerequisite component of life for all human beings, balance control has been examined extensively in a number of studies. Researchers agree that the human body will attempt to orientate the center of mass (CoM), which is a virtual point that is equivalent to the total body mass at which the average of mass distribution for each body segment may be assumed to be concentrated, against perturbation [4]. Winter [6] argued that the location of the CoP is directly impacted by an individual’s foot activity. He stated that the CoP will move in a medial direction as a result of an increase of evertor activity, while the CoM shifts laterally, and will move in a lateral direction as a result of an increase in the invertor activity, which results in the medial shift of the CoM [7]. The research aimed to examine the extent to which the effect of these factors differed between genders
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