scholarly journals Effects of Increasing Balance Task Difficulty on Postural Sway and Muscle Activity in Healthy Adolescents

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnd Gebel ◽  
Benjamin Lüder ◽  
Urs Granacher
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Task Difficulty ◽  
Postural Sway ◽  
Balance Task

scholarly journals Balance task difficulty affects postural sway and cortical activity in healthy adolescents

2020 ◽  
Vol 238 (5) ◽  
pp. 1323-1333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnd Gebel ◽  
Tim Lehmann ◽  
Urs Granacher
Keyword(s):  
Power Spectrum ◽  
Task Difficulty ◽  
Postural Sway ◽  
Cortical Activity ◽  
Theta Band ◽  
Brain Areas ◽  
Frequency Bands ◽  
Band Power ◽  
Balance Task ◽  
Theta Band Power

Abstract Electroencephalographic (EEG) research indicates changes in adults’ low frequency bands of frontoparietal brain areas executing different balance tasks with increasing postural demands. However, this issue is unsolved for adolescents when performing the same balance task with increasing difficulty. Therefore, we examined the effects of a progressively increasing balance task difficulty on balance performance and brain activity in adolescents. Thirteen healthy adolescents aged 16–17 year performed tests in bipedal upright stance on a balance board with six progressively increasing levels of task difficulty. Postural sway and cortical activity were recorded simultaneously using a pressure sensitive measuring system and EEG. The power spectrum was analyzed for theta (4–7 Hz) and alpha-2 (10–12 Hz) frequency bands in pre-defined frontal, central, and parietal clusters of electrocortical sources. Repeated measures analysis of variance (rmANOVA) showed a significant main effect of task difficulty for postural sway (p < 0.001; d = 6.36). Concomitantly, the power spectrum changed in frontal, bilateral central, and bilateral parietal clusters. RmANOVAs revealed significant main effects of task difficulty for theta band power in the frontal (p < 0.001, d = 1.80) and both central clusters (left: p < 0.001, d = 1.49; right: p < 0.001, d = 1.42) as well as for alpha-2 band power in both parietal clusters (left: p < 0.001, d = 1.39; right: p < 0.001, d = 1.05) and in the central right cluster (p = 0.005, d = 0.92). Increases in theta band power (frontal, central) and decreases in alpha-2 power (central, parietal) with increasing balance task difficulty may reflect increased attentional processes and/or error monitoring as well as increased sensory information processing due to increasing postural demands. In general, our findings are mostly in agreement with studies conducted in adults. Similar to adult studies, our data with adolescents indicated the involvement of frontoparietal brain areas in the regulation of postural control. In addition, we detected that activity of selected brain areas (e.g., bilateral central) changed with increasing postural demands.

scholarly journals Effects of task difficulty during practice on learning a dynamic balance task in healthy young adults: An intervention study

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Schedler ◽  
Pascal Leifeld ◽  
Tim Seidel ◽  
Dennis Brueckner ◽  
Thomas Muehlbauer
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Task Difficulty ◽  
Postural Sway ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Task Condition ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Balance Task ◽  
Practice Performance ◽  
Level Of Significance

Abstract Objective Cross-sectional studies reported increased postural sway during balance tasks with a high (e.g., unipedal stance on foam ground) compared to a low (e.g., unipedal stance on firm ground) level of task difficulty. Therefore, practicing/training balance tasks using high compared to low stimuli seems to be beneficial as it addresses larger adaptive reserves. Thus, the present study was performed to investigate the role of task difficulty during practice on learning a dynamic balance task in healthy young adults. Results During acquisition, both practice groups (“Easy” or “Difficult” task condition) significantly improved their performance (i.e., time in balance). Further, the statistical analysis of post-practice performance revealed a significant main effect of test (i.e., better performance under easy compared to difficult test conditions, irrespective of group) but not of group. Additionally, the Group × Test interaction did not reach the level of significance, indicating that learning a dynamic balance task did not depend on the practiced task condition.

scholarly journals Effects of balance training on balance performance in youth: role of training difficulty

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Schedler ◽  
Florian Tenelsen ◽  
Laura Wich ◽  
Thomas Muehlbauer
Keyword(s):  
Task Difficulty ◽  
Balance Training ◽  
Gait Velocity ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Timed Up And Go ◽  
Balance Test ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Time Dynamic ◽  
Balance Task ◽  
Functional Reach Test

Abstract Background Cross-sectional studies have shown that balance performance can be challenged by the level of task difficulty (e.g., varying stance conditions, sensory manipulations). However, it remains unclear whether the application of different levels of task difficulty during balance training (BT) leads to altered adaptations in balance performance. Thus, we examined the effects of BT conducted under a high versus a low level of task difficulty on balance performance. Methods Forty male adolescents were randomly assigned to a BT program using a low (BT-low: n = 20; age: 12.4 ± 2.0 yrs) or a high (BT-high: n = 20; age: 12.5 ± 2.5 yrs) level of balance task difficulty. Both groups trained for 7 weeks (2 sessions/week, 30–35 min each). Pre- and post-training assessments included measures of static (one-legged stance [OLS] time), dynamic (10-m gait velocity), and proactive (Y-Balance Test [YBT] reach distance, Functional Reach Test [FRT]; Timed-Up-and-Go Test [TUG]) balance. Results Significant main effects of Test (i.e., pre- to post-test improvements) were observed for all but one balance measure (i.e., 10-m gait velocity). Additionally, a Test x Group interaction was detected for the FRT in favor of the BT-high group (Δ + 8%, p < 0.001, d = 0.35). Further, tendencies toward significant Test x Group interactions were found for the YBT anterior reach (in favor of BT-high: Δ + 9%, p < 0.001, d = 0.60) and for the OLS with eyes opened and on firm surface (in favor of BT-low: Δ + 31%, p = 0.003, d = 0.67). Conclusions Following 7 weeks of BT, enhancements in measures of static, dynamic, and proactive balance were observed in the BT-high and BT-low groups. However, BT-high appears to be more effective for increasing measures of proactive balance, whereas BT-low seems to be more effective for improving proxies of static balance. Trial registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN83638708 (Retrospectively registered 19th June, 2020).

Reliability and Validity of a Wireless Accelerometer for the Assessment of Postural Sway

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 159-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan W. Saunders ◽  
Panagiotis Koutakis ◽  
Anne D. Kloos ◽  
Deborah A. Kegelmeyer ◽  
Jessica D. Dicke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Postural Sway ◽  
Center Of Mass ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Discrimination Capability ◽  
Intraclass Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Balance Task ◽  
Eyes Open ◽  
Test Retest Reliability

Clinicians are in need of valid and objective measures of postural sway. Accelerometers have been shown to be suitable alternatives to expensive and stationary force plates. We evaluated the test-retest reliability and balance task discrimination capability of a new wireless triaxial accelerometer (YEI 3-Space Sensor). Four testing conditions (eyes open or closed, while on a firm or compliant surface) were used to progressively challenge the static balance of 20 healthy male (n = 8) and female (n = 12) older adults (mean age 81 ± 4.3 y). Subjects completed 2 blocks of three 30-second trials per condition. The accelerometer was positioned on the lower back to acquire mediolateral (M-L) and anterior-posterior (A-P) accelerations. Intraclass correlation coefficients were all good to excellent, with values ranging from .736 to .972 for trial-to-trial and from .760 to .954 for block-to-block. A significant stepwise increase in center of mass acceleration root mean square values was found across the 4 balance conditions (F[1.49, 28.26] = 39.54, P < .001). The new accelerometer exhibited good to excellent trial-to-trial and block-to-block reliability and was sensitive to differences in visual and surface conditions and acceleration axes.

scholarly journals FUNDAMENTAL STUDY ON STANDING MUSCLE ACTIVITY AND POSTURAL SWAY DETECTION FOR HANDS FREE FES STANDING IN PARAPLEGIA

Biomechanisms ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 12 (0) ◽  
pp. 281-291
Author(s):  
Kinya FUJITA ◽  
Noboru ADACHI ◽  
Yasunobu HANDA ◽  
Nozomu HOSHIMIYA ◽  
Harumi TAKAHASHI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Postural Sway ◽  
Fundamental Study

One-Leg Standing Performance and Muscle Activity: Are There Limb Differences?

2014 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Muehlbauer ◽  
Claude Mettler ◽  
Ralf Roth ◽  
Urs Granacher
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Task Difficulty ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Balance Testing ◽  
Leg Muscles ◽  
Eyes Closed ◽  
Eyes Open ◽  
Sensory Condition

The purpose of this study was to compare static balance performance and muscle activity during one-leg standing on the dominant and nondominant leg under various sensory conditions with increased levels of task difficulty. Thirty healthy young adults (age: 23 ± 2 years) performed one-leg standing tests for 30 s under three sensory conditions (ie, eyes open/firm ground; eyes open/foam ground [elastic pad on top of the balance plate]; eyes closed/firm ground). Center of pressure displacements and activity of four lower leg muscles (ie, m. tibialis anterior [TA], m. soleus [SOL], m. gastrocnemius medialis [GAS], m. peroneus longus [PER]) were analyzed. An increase in sensory task difficulty resulted in deteriorated balance performance (P< .001, effect size [ES] = .57−2.54) and increased muscle activity (P< .001, ES = .50−1.11) for all but two muscles (ie, GAS, PER). However, regardless of the sensory condition, one-leg standing on the dominant as compared with the nondominant limb did not produce statistically significant differences in various balance (P> .05, ES = .06−.22) and electromyographic (P> .05, ES = .03−.13) measures. This indicates that the dominant and the nondominant leg can be used interchangeably during static one-leg balance testing in healthy young adults.

scholarly journals Effects of age and task difficulty on postural sway, variability and complexity

2020 ◽  
pp. 105971232096397
Author(s):  
Mohsen Shafizadeh ◽  
Shahab Parvinpour ◽  
Marzie Balali ◽  
Mohsen Shabani
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Task Difficulty ◽  
Postural Sway ◽  
Linear Trend ◽  
Force Plate ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Dependent Variables ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Physical Challenges ◽  
Different Levels

This study aimed to examine the effects of age and the task difficulty on postural sway, variability and complexity. The participants were 90 able-bodied individuals including children ( n = 39; age: 5.89 ± 0.94 years), young adults ( n = 30; age: 23.23 ± 1.61 years) and older adults ( n = 21; age: 64.59 ± 5.24 years) who took part in different balance tasks that had different levels of cognitive and physical challenges. The main dependent variables were postural sway area, postural variability and postural complexity. The participants stood on a standard force plate for 10 s in each task condition, and the centre of pressure displacement was collected at 100-Hz sampling frequency. The results of this study showed that children and older adults, in the more difficult tasks, had greater sway area and complexity and less postural variability. In addition, there was a linear trend in the stability measures as the difficulty of the task was increased. In conclusion, special populations, such as children and older adults, were more sensitive to the balance changes and used active control mechanisms to minimise the risk of losing balance in more challenging conditions.

scholarly journals Reduced Sway During Dual Task Balance Performance Among People With Stroke at 6 and 12 Months After Discharge From Hospital

2009 ◽  
Vol 23 (8) ◽  
pp. 847-854 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorit Hyndman ◽  
Ruth M. Pickering ◽  
Ann Ashburn
Keyword(s):  
Dual Task ◽  
Postural Sway ◽  
Force Plate ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Dual Task Condition ◽  
Eyes Closed ◽  
Balance Task ◽  
Balance Ability ◽  
Task Conditions ◽  
Discharge From Hospital

Background. Cognitive motor interference has been linked to poor recovery and falls. Little is known about recovery of dual-task balance ability poststroke. Methods. In this experimental study, postural sway was examined while standing on a force plate in preferred stance, with feet together, and with eyes closed, at 6 and 12 months postdischarge from hospital. Sway was assessed in isolation and while participants performed a cognitive (shopping list) task. Results . Seventy-six people with stroke (mean age 67 years; range, 21-91 years) took part. Fifty-four completed both assessments. When compared with the single task, sway during the dual-task condition was significantly lower in both the medial lateral (ML) and anterior posterior (AP) directions (both P < .0001). Sway in both directions was influenced by the difficulty of the balance task (both P < .0001). There was a trend of reduced sway at the 12-month assessment compared with the 6-month assessment: significant only in the ML direction ( P = .0056). Repeat fallers swayed more than non—repeat fallers, with increases of 48% and 44% in the ML ( P = .0262) and AP ( P = .0134) directions, respectively. No significant variation in the dual-task reduction in sway was found: the dual-task effect was remarkably consistent over all the conditions tested, particularly in the AP direction. Conclusions. Sway decreased under dual-task conditions and changed as the difficulty of the balance task changed. Stroke fallers swayed more than nonfallers and there was evidence of a reduction in sway over time, particularly in the ML direction.

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