A stricter condition for standing balance after unexpected perturbations. Issue 4 (29th February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hof, At L.; Curtze, Carolin
• Is Part Of: Journal of biomechanics. Volume 49:Issue 4(2016)
• Page Start: 580
• Page End: 585
• Publication Date: 2016-02-29
• Subjects: Balance -- Equilibrium -- Base of support -- Centre of mass -- Centre of pressure -- XcoM -- CoP -- CoM; Animal mechanics -- Periodicals; Biomechanics -- Periodicals; Biomechanics -- Periodicals; Mécanique animale -- Périodiques; Biomécanique -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 571.4305
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2016.01.021
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9290

Abstract

Abstract: In order to account for the dynamic nature of balance, the concept of the 'extrapolated centre of mass' XcoM has been introduced (Hof et al., 2005 ). The law for standing balance was then formulated as: the XcoM should remain within the Base of Support (BoS). This law, however, does not take into account that the centre of pressure (CoP) needs time to displace due to various neural and mechanical delays. The theory is extended to include the finite reaction- and displacement time of the CoP. Experimental results on humans standing on two feet undergoing sudden postural perturbations are presented. In this case it turns out that the area of the effective BoS is only a fraction, some 30%, of the area of the static BoS.