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Verbal Encouragement Provokes Significant Increases in Maximal Volitional Dynamic Postural Sway
Joshua Haworth1, Trevor Lopatin1, Emily Daniels2
1Department of Human Movement Science, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA.
Journal of Motor Behavior
|December 27, 2023
Summary
Verbal encouragement significantly increases sway area in the novel volitional Limits of Stability (vLOS) balance test. This highlights the impact of psychological factors on postural control and informs clinical use of vLOS.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics and Motor Control
- Human Movement Science
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Traditional Limits of Stability (LOS) protocols are target-oriented, limiting observation of volitional control aspects.
- A new unconstrained protocol, volitional Limits of Stability (vLOS), demonstrates high test-retest reliability.
- Understanding factors influencing dynamic postural sway within volitional tasks is crucial for refining balance assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of verbal encouragement on the novel volitional Limits of Stability (vLOS) protocol.
- To determine if psychological factors, such as motivation, influence dynamic postural sway during unconstrained balance tasks.
Main Methods:
- Forty healthy young adults performed three trials of the vLOS protocol.
- The third trial included verbal encouragement, while the first two were standardized.
- Total sway area, measuring maximum volitional dynamic sway, was the primary outcome metric.
Main Results:
- A one-way repeated-measures ANOVA revealed significant differences in sway area across trials (F(2,117) = 41.56, p < 0.0001).
- Paired t-tests indicated no significant difference between the first two trials (p = 0.61).
- Trial three, with verbal encouragement, showed a significantly larger sway area compared to trials one and two (p < 0.0001).
Conclusions:
- Verbal encouragement leads to significant increases in dynamic postural sway within the vLOS protocol.
- Top-down psychological mechanisms play a considerable role in volitional postural control.
- Clinical application of the vLOS protocol requires careful consideration of instructions and delivery to avoid confounding results.
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