Abstract
The objective of this study was to validate a new stabilometric force platform (SFP). For this, three steps have been established: a) to determine the force threshold to reach an acceptable level of accuracy of the centre of pressure (CoP) measurement by the application of single point load; b) to determine the accuracy of the CoP measurement in the application of distributed load simulating the human feet; c) to verify the concurrent validity of the SFP by comparing it with a commercial force platform (FP). The tests performed in steps “a” and “b” were conducted by applying loads on the SFP using a universal testing machine. In the application of single point load, the mean force threshold presented by the SFP was 315.6 ± 140.5 N. The CoP measurement error in the points near the centre of the SFP was 1.04 ± 0.80 mm in medial-lateral (ML) and 1.31 ± 0.99 mm in anteriorposterior (AP) direction. In the points near the edges of the plate, the error was 2.03 ± 0.91mm (ML) and 1.54 ± 0.96 mm (AP). In the test with distributed loads, errors of less than 1mm were found. Additionally, no differences were found in the CoP parameters between SFP and the FP. The CoP measurement signal presented high correlation between both equipments in AP (r = 0.997 ± 0.001) and ML (r = 0.988 ± 0.003) directions. These findings suggest that the SFP can be used in scientific investigations of balance in quiet standing.
Highlights
Stabilometric evaluation involves the analysis of the centre of pressure (CoP), which reflects the net motor pattern at the ankle and the response of the central nervous system to correct the imbalance of the body’s center of mass[1,2]
In order to make it possible for our group to conduct balance researches in quiet standing, a less expensive alternative was used by building a stabilometric force platform (SFP), which calculates the CoP by the measurement of the vertical reaction force, like others with the same principle found in literature[1,9,10]
In relation to the force threshold obtained in the application of the single point load, the SFP system showed good sensitivity, it was not as sensitive as the commercial Force platforms (FP) analyzed by Chockalingam et al.[15], which presented a vertical force threshold ranging from 50.5 to 113.7 N, considering the entire area of the FP
Summary
Stabilometric evaluation involves the analysis of the centre of pressure (CoP), which reflects the net motor pattern at the ankle and the response of the central nervous system to correct the imbalance of the body’s center of mass[1,2]. Several studies[3,4,5,6,7] use the CoP displacement as an indication of stabilization mechanisms and postural control during standing position. Force platforms (FP), which are complex and precise systems[8], are commonly used to measure the CoP. These equipments have a high cost, especially when imported by research groups that have limited financial resources. In order to make it possible for our group to conduct balance researches in quiet standing, a less expensive alternative was used by building a stabilometric force platform (SFP), which calculates the CoP by the measurement of the vertical reaction force, like others with the same principle found in literature[1,9,10]. A validation process of this system had to be carried out, so that it could be used in scientific studies
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