Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 7, 2026
Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control
Published on: September 11, 2019
Differences in calf-raise exercise and short-foot exercise on feedforward and feedback activation in healthy young
Jinyuan Guo1, Yujia Li2, Qiuchen Huang3
1Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Objectives:
To compare the effects of short-foot exercise (SFE) and calf-raise exercise (CRE) on feedforward and feedback mechanisms of dynamic postural control in healthy young adults.
Design:
Randomized controlled trial with assessments pre-training (PRE), immediately post-training (POST1), and after 4 weeks (POST2). Participants performed SFE or CRE (3 × 15 reps, 3-4 times/week for 4 weeks).
Setting:
Laboratory-based balance assessment using instrumented posturography.
Participants:
50 healthy adults (23.9 ± 1.92 years; 23 males) randomly assigned to SFE or CRE groups; 46 completed the study.
Main Outcome Measures:
Sit-to-stand test (Weight Transfer, Rising Index, Sway Velocity), Reaction Time test (Pre-motor Time, Motor Time), Adaptation Test (toes-up and toes-down balance scores).
Results:
Both groups showed improved postural stability: reduced Sway Velocity (p < 0.05), shorter Pre-motor and Motor Times (p < 0.05), and better Adaptation Test scores (p < 0.05). SFE led to greater long-term improvement in Rising Index (p < 0.05) and toes-up adaptation, indicating enhanced feedforward control and center of gravity transfer.
Conclusions:
Both exercises improve dynamic balance, but SFE offers superior long-term benefits in feedforward control and stability against sagittal plane perturbations.
