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Effect of masticating chewing gum on postural stability during upright standing
Keisuke Kushiro1, Fumiyuki Goto
1Kyoto University, Yoshida-Nihonmatsu-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan. kushiro@brain.mbox.media.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Neuroscience Letters
|October 21, 2010
Summary
Chewing gum during standing improves balance by enhancing postural stability. This effect was observed through reduced center-of-pressure sway, indicating better control.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Human Motor Control
- Sensory Integration
Background:
- Postural stability is crucial for daily activities and preventing falls.
- The influence of mastication on motor control, particularly postural stability, remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of masticating chewing gum on postural stability during upright standing.
- To quantify changes in center-of-pressure (COP) dynamics associated with gum chewing.
Main Methods:
- Twelve healthy subjects participated in a posturography study using a force platform.
- Postural sway was measured under three conditions: pre-mastication, during mastication (gum-condition), and post-mastication.
Main Results:
- Masticating chewing gum significantly enhanced postural stability.
- The area of the center-of-pressure (COP) trajectory decreased during gum chewing and increased afterward.
- Maximum velocity and standard deviation of COP fore-aft amplitude were reduced during mastication.
Conclusions:
- Mastication of chewing gum positively affects postural control.
- Chewing gum appears to enhance postural stability during upright standing.
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