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Swaying to the complex motion of a visual target affects postural sway variability
Haralampos Sotirakis1, Dimitrios Patikas2, Nicholas Stergiou3
1Laboratory of Motor Behaviour and Adapted Physical Activity, School of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Gait & Posture
|February 7, 2020
Summary
Tracking visual motion enhances postural sway amplitude variability but reduces duration, suggesting improved spatial but not temporal coupling. This could inform exercises for older adults.
Area of Science:
- Human movement science
- Neuroscience
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Voluntary body weight shifting is crucial for daily activities like walking and rising.
- Flexible and variable postural sway is necessary to adapt to everyday movement challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how tracking complex visual motion affects the variability of voluntary anteroposterior postural sway.
- To determine the impact of visual feedback on the magnitude and temporal structure of postural sway.
Main Methods:
- Twenty young adults performed voluntary anteroposterior sway on a force platform under self-paced and visual target tracking conditions.
- Variability was assessed using the Coefficient of Variance (CoV) and fractal exponent (α) for sway cycle duration, amplitude, and velocity.
- Visuo-postural coupling was measured using cross-correlation analysis between target and sway parameters.
Main Results:
- Tracking a complex visual target increased the CoV for sway amplitude, duration, and velocity.
- The fractal exponent (α) increased for sway amplitude but decreased for duration, indicating altered temporal and spatial variability.
- Cross-correlation analysis showed synchronous spatial coupling (lag 0) but asynchronous temporal coupling (lag +1) with the visual target.
Conclusions:
- Visual target tracking enhances sway amplitude variability at the expense of duration, indicating improved spatial over temporal coordination.
- Findings suggest that visuo-postural coupling is more spatially than temporally synchronized.
- This research can inform the development of postural training interventions for populations with impaired stability, such as older adults.
