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Updated: May 18, 2026
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Sit-to-stand-and-walk from 120% Knee Height: A Novel Approach to Assess Dynamic Postural Control Independent of Lead-limb
Published on: August 30, 2016
Changes in standing postural control during acquisition of a sequential reaching task
Anne K Galgon1, Patricia A Shewokis, Carole A Tucker
1Rehabilitation Science Research Lab, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Gait & Posture
|December 8, 2009
Summary
Learning functional reaching movements improved hand accuracy and consistency. Postural control also enhanced, indicating better equilibrium management during task practice.
Area of Science:
- Motor control and learning
- Human movement science
- Neurorehabilitation
Background:
- Postural control during functional reaching is not well understood.
- Task acquisition involves both focal and postural goals.
- Distinguishing explicit and implicit learning processes is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine postural control acquired during the learning of functional reaching movements.
- To investigate the relationship between focal (hand) and postural (equilibrium) action-goals.
- To explore the timing of improvements reflecting explicit and implicit learning.
Main Methods:
- Fourteen healthy adults practiced a serial reaching task 300 times.
- Hand accuracy and consistency measured by absolute constant error and variable error.
- Postural control assessed using time to boundary (TtB).
Main Results:
- Significant improvements observed in hand task accuracy and consistency.
- Practice led to an increase in time to boundary (TtB) values.
- Postural control changes suggest enhanced efficiency or perception-action coupling.
Conclusions:
- Functional reaching practice improves both hand performance and postural control.
- Increased TtB indicates better maintenance of equilibrium during reaching.
- Findings suggest that postural adjustments are learned alongside focal task goals.
