The lack of sleep, both in quality and quantity, is an increasing problem in modern society, often related to workload and stress. A number of studies have addressed the effects of acute (total) sleep deprivation on postural control. However, up to date, the effects of chronic sleep deficits, either in quantity or quality, have not been analyzed. Thirty healthy adults participated in the study ...

This study explored how a HMD-experienced virtual environment influences physical balance of six balance-impaired adults 59-69 years-of-age, when compared to a control group of eight nonbalance-impaired adults, 18-28 years-of-age. The setup included a Microsoft Kinect and a selfcreated balance board controlling a skiing game. Two tests were conducted: full-vision versus blindfolded and HMD vers...

INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE The ability to maintain standing balance and orientation is crucial to mobility and independence. Standing balance is generally maintained by anticipatory postural adjustments associated with voluntary actions. However, inaccurate judgment or impaired anticipatory processes, as well as extrinsic postural perturbations– external forces not generated intrinsically due to ...

In this study, we evaluated the influence of idiopathic scoliosis on postural balance and muscle activity in static and dynamic sitting condition. Twelve adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis were included in this study. Postural balance and muscle activities of all subjects were assessed under two experimental conditions: i) static sitting, ii) dynamic sitting. In static sitting condition, sub...

BACKGROUND Fall risk depends on ability to maintain balance during daily activities, and on ability to recover balance following a perturbation such as a slip or trip. We examined whether similar neuromuscular variables govern these two domains of postural stability. METHODS We conducted experiments with 25 older women (mean age=78 yrs, SD=7 yrs). We acquired measures of postural steadiness d...

Purpose Altered movement patterns and spine instability are important factors in the etiology of chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP). The faulty recruitment pattern of core muscles causes poor support and increased loading on the lumbar spine and ultimately leads to postural instability. The aim of this study is the effect of core stability exercises (CSE) combined with abdominal hollow...

Postural control can be defined as the control of the body’s position in space for the purposes of balance and orientation [1]. A definition of balance is the ability to maintain or return the body's centre of gravity within the limits of stability that are determined by the base of support (i.e., the area of the feet) [2]; while spatial orientation defines our natural ability to maintain our b...

[Purpose] The purpose of the current study was to investigate the influence of footwear type on postural sway of hemiparetic stroke patients. [Subjects] Thirty-two stroke patients who were undergoing a rehabilitation program were recruited on a voluntary basis from local rehabilitation unit. [Methods] This study had a single-group repeated-measures design. The Good Balance system was used to me...

Background: Dynamic postural instability is a common neuromuscular impairment in cerebral palsy (CP), which often includes balance dysfunction and an associated risk of serious falls. Robotic hippotherapy has recently become a widespread clinical application to facilitate postural core stabilization, strength, and endurance through repetitive vestibular and proprioceptive stimulation to the spi...

BACKGROUND Reduced muscle strength is an independent risk factor for falls and related to postural instability in individuals with Parkinson's disease. The ability of resistance training to improve postural control still remains unclear. OBJECTIVE To compare resistance training with balance training to improve postural control in people with Parkinson's disease. METHODS 40 patients with idi...