The Impact of Fitness Level on Postural Control When Standing on a Perturbed Surface Using an Instrumented Dynamic Platform

A novel method for assessing balance was presented, and is sensitive to changes in the postural control system. The force sensing resistors are the basic sensing element of the instrumented platform. The platform is capable of measuring destabilized and multidirectional postural perturbations. The platform, quantifies the postural control of the subjects by evaluating their weighted center of pressure distribution over time. The objective of this research was to establish the influence of fitness level (lifestyle) on the postural control of subjects, using the novel platform designed. The weighted center of pressure distribution was calculated for both Eye Open and Eye Close conditions on Flat Ground and the Dynamic Platform. Subjects with active lifestyles had their weighted center of pressure distribution concentrated within a small region. However, the distribution region of this parameter for subjects without active lifestyles gradually increased with the degradation in lifestyle, indicative of a poor postural control and weak proprioceptive strength.