Frequency-domain patterns in foot-force line-of-action: an emergent property of standing balance control

A recent line of work suggests that the net behavior of the foot-ground interaction force provides insight into quiet-standing-balance dynamics and control. Through human-subject experiments, Boehm et al. found that the relative variations of the center of pressure and force orientation emerge as a distinct pattern in the frequency domain, termed the "intersection-point (IP) height." Subsequent empirical and simulation-based studies showed that different control strategies are reflected in the distribution of intersection-point height across frequency. To facilitate understanding of the strengths and limitations of the intersection-point height in describing the dynamics and control of standing, the present work establishes a spectral-based method that also enables derivation of a closed-form estimate of the intersection-point height from any linear model of quiet stance. This new method explained observations from prior work, including how the measure captures aspects of control and physiological noise. The analysis presented herein highlights the utility of the frequency-dependent foot-force dynamics in probing the balance controller and provides a tool for model development and validation to further our understanding of the neuromotor control of natural upright posture in humans.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The present work details a closed-form analytical result that reveals a direct link between frequency-domain patterns in the foot-force line-of-action and the closed-loop frequency response function of human upright stance. The analytical method developed herein dramatically simplifies the identification of the intersection-point-height measure of standing balance, and further demonstrates that the net behavior of the foot-ground interaction force quantifies essential characteristics of the underlying neuromotor control of human quiet standing.