A comparative analysis of the center of gravity and center of pressure trajectory path lengths in standing posture: an estimation of active stiffness

The center of foot pressure (CP) motions, representing the net neuromuscular control, was compared to the center of gravity (CG) motions, representing the net performance. The comparison focused on the trajectory path length parameter along the medio-lateral and antero-posterior axes because these t...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of applied biomechanics 2000-08, Vol.16 (3), p.234-247
Main Authors: Caron, O, Gelat, T, Rougier, P, Blanchi, J P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biomechanical Phenomena
Comparative analysis
Foot
Gravitation
Humans
Male
Models, Biological
Motion
Oscillometry
Postural Balance - physiology
Posture - physiology
Pressure
Space life sciences
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The center of foot pressure (CP) motions, representing the net neuromuscular control, was compared to the center of gravity (CG) motions, representing the net performance. The comparison focused on the trajectory path length parameter along the medio-lateral and antero-posterior axes because these two variables depend on amplitude versus frequency relationship. This relationship was used to evaluate the CG motions based on the CP motions. Seven subjects stood still on a force plate with eyes open and eyes closed. The results showed that the ratio of (CP-CG)/CP trajectory path length was personal for each subject. These results suggest different levels of passive (ligaments, elastic properties) and active (reflex activity) stiffness. For some subjects, this ratio was significantly lower for the eyes open condition than for the eyes closed condition, indicating a decrease of the active stiffness for the eyes open condition. Therefore, a CG-CP comparative analysis appeared helpful in understanding the control of balance and necessary to quantify the subjects' net performance.
ISSN:1065-8483
1543-2688
DOI:10.1123/jab.16.3.234