Breathing changes accompanying balance improvement during biofeedback

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Respiratory Physiology
• Motor Control

Background:

• Postural control is crucial for stability, especially on unstable surfaces like foam.
• Visual biofeedback is a common technique to improve motor performance.
• The interplay between respiration and postural control is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of visual biofeedback on respiratory patterns during static standing on a foam surface.
• To determine if visual biofeedback influences chest wall movements and breathing parameters.

Main Methods:

• Fifty healthy young adults were tested under two conditions: standing on foam and standing on foam with visual biofeedback (VF) of center of pressure (CoP).
• CoP (amplitude and velocity) was measured using a force platform.
• Breathing movements (upper and lower chest breathing - UCB, LCB) were recorded using 3D accelerometers.
• Spirometry was used in a subset of participants to measure tidal volume and breathing frequency.

Main Results:

• Visual biofeedback significantly decreased CoP amplitude and velocity in both anterior-posterior and medial-lateral directions.
• Lower chest breathing (LCB) significantly decreased, while LCB frequency increased during the VF condition.
• Spirometry confirmed a significant decrease in tidal volume and an increase in breathing frequency during VF.

Conclusions:

• Visual biofeedback during standing on foam alters respiratory patterns, characterized by reduced chest movement and increased breathing rate.
• These respiratory changes are likely an involuntary adaptation to optimize postural stability.
• The findings suggest a coordinated neuromuscular strategy involving respiration for enhanced balance control.