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The modern approach argue the real balance in the sense of zero deviations from a fixed point, could not exist in biological systems. The balance is part of the coordination and coordination capacity shown to be necessary in performing motor skills development, this based on capacity to learn, control and permanently adaptation. The major interest in this paper is to establish trend data recorded on the position of the center of pressure analysis in subjects with different levels of sports activities practicing. For this purpose we have investigated the reproducible laboratory conditions a number of 62 subjects divided into two groups, a sample of 31 subjects consistent practitioners of the sport, but do not the level of performance and a sample of 31 athletes (shooting performance), with experience in the sports training and competition. Postural stability was evaluated by software - POSTUROTEST, it can reveal information about the mechanism of postural control system. The center of pressure is the result of descending motor commands and combinations of mechanical properties of the ankle. This testing type is included into the category of tests oriented towards the sensorial organization, the method is also known under the name of "posturography". The test consists in keeping the body position on a platform, the eyes staring at a given target. The platform pressure sensors register the body movements (balance), while the tested person keeps his balance. The results suggest that individual differences in postural balance are insignificant in relation to the appearance of somatic, physiological healthy person (statistically habitual) with regard significant changes can be observed in the case of athletes, they resort to achieve results performance to solutions for improving stability phenotypic developing the ability to maintain balance in sports sample specific positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we developed a system for measurement of postural bias in sitting using the unstable board with accelerometer. 20 healthy subjects were participated in this study. Subjects were instructed to sit the board with their arms crossed and without leaning back for 60 seconds. Angular variation in the anterior-posterior and left-right direction as well as body pressure distribution of left and right side including contact area, maximum force, peak pressure, and mean pressure were assessed while sitting. Also, intra class correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to evaluate the reliability of the system using COP sway path and area. Tilting angle increased in anterior and right direction. All parameters of pressure distribution data showed an inclination to increase the right side. COP sway path and area did not differ significantly between tests and ICC value was excellent. This paper suggest that system for measurement of postural bias in sitting can be utilized not only to check bad sitting posture but also provide useful information about patients with idiopathic scoliosis in rehabilitation medicine. Also, results from this study can be used to evaluate the difference postural balance between normal and patient group for developing new clinical quantitative measurement system. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The ambulatory forces exerted underneath the plantar surface of the foot of visually-impaired individuals have not been fully studied. Accordingly, the objective of this pilot study is to characterize the plantar pressures in the said individuals using a pedar-x (novel gmbh, Munich, Germany) in-shoe dynamic plantar pressure measurement system. A foot mask, dividing each of the insoles into seven plantar loading regions, is employed in this study. This paper reports preliminary results obtained from two physically abled, normal-sighted control individuals and three visually-impaired subjects. The study metrics included: mean peak plantar pressure, foot-to-ground contact duration, insole loading area, pressure-time integral, and the position, displacement, and instantaneous velocity of the center of pressure. The results reveal that there is noticeable variability in the peak plantar pressure distribution among the test subjects. Such results reflect non-homogeneity in foot biomechanics of visually-impaired individuals that is believed to be due to their cautious walking strategy. The visually-impaired subjects exhibited prolonged foot-to-ground contact durations and a naturally improvised COP trajectory. A generalized conclusion can be attained upon expanding the current study to include a larger sample population of both normal control and visually impaired. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

For reducing the risk of pressure sore caused by long period sitting on a wheelchair, we have developed a depressurization motion assistance system which is low cost and suitable for practical use. Our developing system consists of a seating cushion which the patient sits on and four air cells which can lift or incline the seating cushion. Each air cell is actuated by small air compressor, which can drive using batteries on the wheelchair respectively, and each compressor has a pressure sensor on its body. In this paper, we develop the depressurization assistance control scheme based on the pressure distribution estimation. For realizing the pressure distribution estimation during the depressurization motion, we analyze the hip depressurization operation by the nursing specialists and from analytical results, our system uses the center of pressure as an index value. Using the estimated results, our system controls the inclination of its seating cushion for increasing the depressurization performance. With our proposed system, the patient can depressurize on his sacral part without special operation. The performance of our system is verified by experiments using our prototype. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Older adults have an increased risk of falls due, in part, to cognitive and physical deterioration. The ability to accurately measure standing stability would be an asset to clinicians who could focus rehabilitation treatments for client specific needs. This paper demonstrates how a pressure sensitive array along with a processing algorithm allow the extraction of key clinical features to allow clinicians to quantify the patient's standing stability. Data were collected from an older adult with chronic stroke over a two week period and the extracted clinical features were compared to those of a healthy young person. The older adult exerted more pressure under the left foot due to stroke, a large area of sway and decreased movement velocity as compared to the young healthy individual. The data clearly distinguish between and correspond to decreased stability in the older compared to the younger adult. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Assessing a patient's standing stability provides information to clinicians when monitoring a patient's recovery after a stroke or hip surgery. This paper explores the usability of pressure sensitive floor sensors for capturing clinical information related to standing stability. The configurable parameters of the sensor array; sampling rate and resolution are varied to design a system that is efficient and effective in presenting data to clinicians. An algorithm using image processing techniques was developed to calculate the patient's center of pressure (COP). The location of the COP is used to determine how symmetrical the patient's stance is. While investigating the impact of reducing the sampling rate and resolution of the pressure sensor, a trade-off between bandwidth and accuracy was discovered. However the results show that the minimum sampling rate to obtain >95% accuracy was 3.3 Hz and the minimal resolution to obtain >90% accuracy used only ¼ of the sensor array. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Data acquisition from various clinical experiments of posturographic analysis showed lack of evidence regarding a clear influence of postural parameters on subject disorders. This paper advances an investigational method for correlating lumbar spine movements and the sagittal excursions of the human center of mass and center of pressure. Five young healthy females have been simultaneously tested using a force platform and ultrasound based motion-analyzing system. Results showed good coordination of amplitudes in investigated parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]