Postural adjustment in standing position when catching a ball under unpredictable conditions of the direction to be caught.

Heliyon

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan.

Published: February 2023

AI Article Synopsis

  • Balanced postural control relies on two mechanisms: anticipatory and compensatory postural adjustments, both of which are affected by unpredictability in the environment, such as catching a ball with eyes closed.
  • The study investigates how muscle activity and shifts in center of pressure differ when participants face predictable versus unpredictable catching directions.
  • Results indicate that unexpected directions lead to higher muscle activity in certain lower limb and trunk muscles, suggesting a more vigorous response from the central nervous system to maintain balance.

Article Abstract

Background: Balanced postural control of the body is associated with two mechanisms: anticipatory postural adjustment and compensatory postural adjustment. Previous studies reported changes in body postural control under unpredictable conditions (interference with closed eyes).

Research Question: To ascertain whether in contrast with predictable disturbances, there is a difference in muscle activity and center of pressure displacement changes when the direction of the disturbance is unpredictable.

Methods: Three examiners stood at 45° to the left, the front, and 45° to the right of the participant to throw the ball to him. 11 healthy young participants were required to maintain their balance in the standing position after receiving the ball in conditions with and without known catching directions. The anticipatory postural adjustment and compensatory postural adjustment integral changes of the muscle activity in the lower limbs and trunk bilaterally and at the center of pressure displacement in the known and unknown conditions were observed. Two-way ANOVA was used to compare the differences in muscle activity and displacement changes.

Results: Results showed that the center of pressure in the anticipatory postural adjustment and compensatory postural adjustment in the posterior direction with known catching direction was significantly shorter than those without. Integration of electromyogram in anticipatory postural adjustment of the right soleus (p = 0.023) was associated with higher muscle activities in the unknown than known conditions. Integration of electromyogram in compensatory postural adjustment of the right tibial anterior (p = 0.004), right rectus femoris (p = 0.023) and left rectus abdominis (p = 0.038) in unknown catching direction had significantly greater muscle activity than those without. When the direction of the perturbation is unpredictable, the central nervous system may initiate and induce greater center of pressure changes in the posterior direction with changes in several muscular activities to ensure postural control.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9937908PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13138DOI Listing

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