Article

Evidence of a non-specific effect of balance training on postural control
mechanisms suggests that balance training during mechanically unperturbed
standing may improve postural corrective responses following external
perturbations. The purpose of the present study was to examine kinematics of the
trunk as well as muscular activity of the lower leg and paraspinal muscles during
postural responses to support-surface rotations after short-term balance
training. Experiments were performed in control (n=10) and experimental (n=11)
groups. The experimental group participated in the 3-day balance training
program. During the training, participants stood on a force platform and were
instructed to voluntarily shift their center of pressure in indicated directions
as represented by a cursor on a monitor. Postural perturbation tests were
executed before and after the training period: the slow and fast 10 degrees
dorsiflexions were induced at angular velocities of approximately 50 degrees
s(-1) and 200 degrees s(-1), respectively. In the experimental group, the
amplitude of the trunk displacements during slow and fast perturbations was up to
33.4% and 26.7% lower, respectively, following the training. The magnitude of the
muscular activity was reduced in both the early and late components of the
response. The kinematic parameters and muscular responses did not change in the
control group. The results suggest that balance training during unperturbed
standing has the potential to improve postural corrective responses to unexpected
balance perturbation through (1) improved neuromuscular coordination of the
involved muscles and (2) adaptive neural modifications on the spinal and cortical
levels facilitated by voluntary activity.
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Langue : ANGLAIS