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Postural Control and Muscle Activity during Dual-Task in Young Adults
Marina Saraiva1,2,3, João Paulo Vilas-Boas4,5, Maria António Castro2,3,6
1Dr. Lopes Dias Health School, Sector of Physiotherapy, Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, 6000-767 Castelo Branco, Portugal.
Behavioral Sciences (Basel, Switzerland)
|May 24, 2024
Summary
Using smartphones while standing increases postural sway and decreases lower limb muscle activity in young adults. This dual-tasking affects balance control by decentralizing attention from motor performance.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Human Motor Control
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Dual-tasking, such as smartphone use while standing, is common.
- Previous research indicates dual-tasking can impair postural stability.
- Limited studies have investigated lower limb muscle activity during smartphone-based dual-tasking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate postural sway and lower limb muscle activity during dual-tasking in young adults.
- To understand the impact of cognitive smartphone tasks on motor control during standing.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-six healthy young adults performed single-task (quiet standing) and dual-task (standing with smartphone cognitive task) conditions.
- Postural sway was measured using center of pressure (CoP) analysis via a force platform.
- Lower limb and lumbar muscle activity was recorded using surface electromyography (sEMG).
Main Results:
- Postural sway significantly increased in all measured CoP variables during dual-tasking compared to single-tasking (p < 0.05).
- Muscle activity in most analyzed lower limb and lumbar muscles decreased during dual-tasking (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Dual-tasking with smartphones leads to increased postural sway, indicating reduced stability.
- Decreased muscle activity suggests a reallocation of neural resources away from postural control.
- Attention decentralization from motor performance is a key factor in dual-tasking deficits.
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