Anticipatory postural control in adaptation of goal-directed lower extremity movements

Skilled football players can adapt their kicking movements depending on external environments. Predictive postural control movements, known as anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs), are needed preceding kicking movements to precisely control them while maintaining a standing posture only with the support leg. We aimed to clarify APAs of the support leg in the process of adaptation of goal-directed movements with the lower limb. Participants replicated ball-kicking movements such that they reached a cursor, representing a kicking-foot position towards a forward target while standing with the support leg. APAs were observed as the centre of pressure of the support leg shifted approximately 300 ms in advance of the onset of movement of the kicking foot. When the cursor trajectory of the kicking foot was visually rotated during the task, the kicking-foot movement was gradually modified to reach the target, indicating adaptation to the novel visuomotor environment. Interestingly, APAs in the mediolateral direction were also altered following the change in kicking-foot movements. Additionally, the APAs modified more slowly than the kicking-foot movements. These results suggest that flexible changes in predictive postural control might support the adaptation of goal-directed movements of the lower limb.