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. 2023 Jan 20:86:7-15.
doi: 10.5114/jhk/159452. eCollection 2023 Mar.

Posturographic Standards for Optimal Control of Human Standing Posture

Janusz W Błaszczyk  1 , Monika Beck  1
Affiliations

Posturographic Standards for Optimal Control of Human Standing Posture

Janusz W Błaszczyk et al. J Hum Kinet. .

Abstract

Static posturography is a simple non-invasive technique commonly used in contemporary labs and clinics to quantify the central nervous system adaptive mechanisms involved in the control of posture and balance. Its diagnostic value, however, is quite limited due to the lack of posturographic standards for the stable posture. To solve this problem, in this research, we aimed to establish reference values for the stable human posture using our novel parameters of static posturography including the sway anteroposterior directional index (DIAP), the mediolateral directional index (DIML), the stability vector amplitude (SVamp), and the stability vector azimuth (SVaz). Towards this end, in a population of young (mean age 22 yrs), healthy able-bodied volunteers (50 males and 50 females), trajectories of postural sway, based upon the center-of-pressure (COP), were assessed. The experiment consisted of ten 60 s trials that were carried out 5 times while subjects were standing quietly on the force plate with eyes open (EO test) and 5 times with eyes closed (EC test). Results showed that in young healthy subjects, regardless of gender, the basic variables of COP remained at the following levels: SVamp = 9.2 ± 1.6 mm/s, SVaz = 0.9 ± 0.1 rad, and directional indices DIAP = 0.7 ± 0.05, DIML = 0.56 ± 0.06. Some of the measures were sensitive to visual input (EC trials), and showed a weak to moderate correlation with anthropometric features. These measures can be recommended as reference values that characterize the most stable erect posture.

Keywords: postural control; postural sway; stability; static posturography.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Sway Vector variables: SVamp = VCOP (upper panel), and azimuth SVaz = φCOP as measured in young healthy adults (n = 100) while standing quietly with eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC). * p ≤ 0.01, *** p ≤ 0.0001
Figure 2
Figure 2
Impact of visual input on anteroposterior VCOP AP (upper panel) and mediolateral (VCOP ML) sway velocity in the male and female groups of young able-bodied subjects while standing with eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC). * p ≤ 0.01, *** p ≤ 0.0001
Figure 3
Figure 3
Changes in directional sway indices (anteroposterior DIAP, and mediolateral DIML) in young subjects standing with eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC). * p ≤ 0.01, *** p ≤ 0.0001
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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