Body sway stabilization in human posture

Abstract

Electromyographic (emg) responses and joint movements of the leg were analysed in subjects standing with eyes closed on a sinusoidally moving treadmill (0.16 Hz or 0.33 Hz, amplitude 33 cm). Activity in antagonistic leg muscles was reciprocally modulated, with a predominant gastrocnemius activation during deceleration of forward movement and tibialis anterior activation during deceleration of backward movement of the treadmill. In these phases, it was necessary to compensate for sway induced by body inertia. The match between treadmill movement and emg activity was better for the gastrocnemius than for the tibialis anterior muscle. The characteristic pattern of leg muscle emg activity is suggested to be modulated predominantly by vestibulo-spinal reflexes partly because treadmill movements did not evoke muscle strength, and partly because patients with loss of vestibular function showed basic alterations in the emg pattern and could only compensate for the slow sinus while standing unsupported.