Simultaneous Postural Adjustments (SPA) scrutinized using the Lissajous method

The goal of this research was to study the postural adjustments that occur during the course of a voluntary movement (Simultaneous Postural Adjustments: SPA). A pointing task performed at maximal velocity was considered and upper limb kinematics and body kinetics were recorded. A 2-DOF model was elaborated that distinguishes between the body segments that are mobilized in order to perform the pointing movement. These segments are the right upper limb (termed the “focal” component) and the rest of the body (termed the “postural” component). This model allowed for the calculation of both sub-systems׳ kinetics and a comparison of the resultant reaction (RoSh) with the corresponding action (AoSh) at the shoulder level. The analysis was based on the ellipsoidal shape of their relationship. The ellipse computation (“Lissajous ellipse”) allowed the time lag to be estimated. The results showed that the kinetics of the postural component preceded that of the focal ones and that the time lag during the SPA was not statistically different from the APA duration (dAPA). In addition, the kinetics of the postural component were found to be opposed to the perturbation induced by the pointing movement, but only during part of the SPA time interval. It was concluded that the postural component plays a dual role during the movement, which consists of postural stabilization and propulsive action, with one prevailing over the other depending on the time-instant of movement evolution. This new evidence in healthy subjects is helpful to further specify differences associated with motor impairments.