Time-of-day influences on static and dynamic postural control

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Chronobiology
• Human Performance

Background:

• Postural control assessment is vital in clinical and research settings.
• The impact of diurnal variations on physical performance is recognized, but its effect on postural control remains unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of time of day on both static and dynamic postural control.
• To determine if postural control performance varies across different times of the day.

Main Methods:

• Thirty healthy college-aged participants underwent postural control assessments.
• Evaluations included static (eyes open/closed on forceplate) and dynamic (Star Excursion Balance Test) measures.
• Data were collected at 10:00, 15:00, and 20:00 over two consecutive days, analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA.

Main Results:

• Dynamic postural control (normalized reach distance) was significantly better at 10:00 compared to 15:00 and 20:00.
• Static postural control (center-of-pressure velocity) showed lower scores at 10:00 than later times on day 1, but effects were less consistent.

Conclusions:

• Time of day consistently affects dynamic postural control, with morning performance potentially being superior.
• The influence of time of day on static postural control is less consistent and requires additional investigation.
• Findings are crucial for researchers and clinicians in standardizing and interpreting postural control assessments.