Effect of Constraining Joint Motions on Postural Control

A major advantage of understanding a neural control scheme is able to simultaneously perform multiple tasks based on the Uncontrolled Manifold (UCM) hypothesis by taking advantage of motor redundancy. The present study aims to investigate this hypothesis further by examining the effect of artificially eliminating knee and lumbar-thoracic joint motions on postural control when the arms performing targeting task simultaneously in standing. Subjects (Younger group: 20~35 years old; Elder group: 60~85 years old) will execute a targeting task with and without an additional ball-balancing task in standing with free joint motions and with restricted joint motions. The investigators expect to recruit 50 subjects for each group. Analyses of joint configuration variance on the stability of the center of mass (COM) position and the hand path will be performed using the UCM method of variance analysis. This method partitions joint configuration variance into one component consistent with the use of motor abundance and a component that leads to COM position or hand path variability. Furthermore, the differences between the younger group and the elder group will be evaluated.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Healthy Adults

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 30

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Taiwan
  • Taipei City, Taiwan, 100
    • Recruiting
    • School & Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University
    • Principal Investigator: Wei-Li Hsu, PhD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthy adults from 18-65 years old

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Participants are healthy with no self-reported neurological deficits, musculoskeletal conditions or motion sickness that affected their ability to maintain stable upright posture.

Exclusion Criteria:

Participants are healthy with self-reported neurological deficits, musculoskeletal conditions or motion sickness that affected their ability to maintain stable upright posture.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Taiwan University Hospital
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Wei-Li Hsu, PhD, National Taiwan University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: April 1, 2012
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): December 1, 2016
• Study Completion (Anticipated): December 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 5, 2012
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 9, 2012
• First Posted (Estimate): October 10, 2012

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): July 8, 2015
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 7, 2015
• Last Verified: July 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 201203044RIC