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Postural sway and perceived comfort in pointing tasks
Stanislaw Solnik1, Nemanja Pazin2, Chase J Coelho3
1Department of Kinesiology, Pennsylvania State University, USA; University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, Poland.
Neuroscience Letters
|April 2, 2014
Summary
Perceived comfort, not target specifics, influenced postural sway during pointing tasks. Trembling sway correlated with comfort, suggesting different mechanisms for sway types.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Human Motor Control
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Postural sway is crucial for maintaining balance.
- Rambling and trembling are distinct components of postural sway.
- Understanding factors influencing sway is vital for human performance and injury prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between postural sway and perceived comfort during pointing tasks.
- To determine if target location or distance affects postural sway.
- To explore the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying different sway components.
Main Methods:
- Participants stood on a force plate and performed pointing tasks to various targets.
- Postural sway was quantified using force plate data over 60-second intervals.
- Participants provided subjective comfort ratings for each posture.
Main Results:
- No significant effect of target location or distance on postural sway indices was observed.
- Comfort ratings showed a significant correlation with trembling sway components.
- Rambling and trembling sway appear to be regulated by different neurophysiological mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- Subjective perception of comfort is a significant factor in postural sway.
- Trembling sway may be more closely linked to sensory-motor control and perceived effort.
- Future research should explore the interplay between comfort, neurophysiology, and postural control.
