Article

Recent studies on postural control have shown that the variability of body sway
during quiet standing may provide valuable information to characterize changes in
postural control due to age, pathology, skill and task. The aim of the present
study was to determine - as spade work for possible clinical applications -
whether body sway measured with a three-axial accelerometer at the trunk can
differentiate between three healthy young populations that differ in athletic
skill level. The three groups in question (group size: n=22) consisted of regular
bachelor students, physical education students and physical education students
specialized in gymnastics. Data were recorded during tandem stance with eyes open
or closed and while standing on foam. The acceleration time-series were analysed
in anteriorposterior and mediolateral direction. Differences in postural control
were quantified in terms of variability, spectral properties and stochastic
dynamical measures, i.c., regularity (sample entropy, long-range correlations)
and local stability (largest Lyapunov exponent). The results were clear-cut.
Standing with eyes closed and on foam increased variability. Compared to standing
with eyes open, standing with eyes closed resulted in less regular sway patterns
but with greater local stability, whereas standing on foam had an opposite
effect. With greater gymnastic skills, acceleration time-series were less
variable, less regular and more stable. These results imply that quantifying the
stochastic-dynamical structure of postural sway using ambulant accelerometry may
provide a useful diagnostic tool.

Langue : ANGLAIS